The Dental Amalgam Ban is Coming
Dental amalgam was the go-to filling material even before the NHS was started. Today, it remains the most used for permanent fillings across NHS dental practices in the UK, mostly because of its low cost.
Over the last decade, private practices have been moving further away from dental amalgam, not even including it as an option for patients, and instead leading with white composite fillings, which are slightly more expensive and aesthetically pleasing.
However, private practices won’t be the only ones that stop offering dental amalgam.
As voted by the European Parliament, from 1 January 2025, dental amalgam will be officially banned across the EU, a change that, if implemented in the UK, would devastate one of the NHS’s core dental services.
Just announced
On 14 July 2024, the European Commission proposed revising the Mercury Regulation.
This would include a total phase-out of the use of dental amalgam and a prohibition on the manufacture or export of dental amalgam from the EU as of 1 January 2025. Five years earlier than expected.
Since the UK has left the EU, it is no longer bound by the EU’s ban, which only applies to member states.
However, we can’t help but feel that if change and a vote were to happen here, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland would be hugely affected, with Northern Ireland being hit the hardest, as it already tops the UK league table for oral health inequality, with the highest proportions of filled teeth.
Heard about the dental amalgam ban?
If you’re in the UK, there’s no need to worry — the changes won’t affect your treatment.
However, if you have questions or would like to explore alternative materials, please call us on 020 7928 4474.
Our team at Mint Dental Clinic in Elephant & Castle, London, is here to help.
Why is dental amalgam being banned?
Amalgam fillings release mercury, and although they are considered safe for use, they contribute to environmental mercury waste.
However, mercury poisoning is possible, as the dental amalgam filling can release low levels of mercury in the form of vapour, which can be inhaled or absorbed by the lungs.
Exposure to high levels of mercury vapour can result in adverse effects on the brain or kidneys.
That said, it is believed that there are no systemic toxic effects, and dental patients rarely experience allergic reactions, such as dermatitis.
The fight back
Currently, divergence means that the UK faces disruption and higher costs due to the impact on supply chains; however, no formal ban exists.
The British Dental Association (BDA), in an open letter to the UK Chief Dental Officers, made its position clear, stressing that there were currently no alternative restorative materials that could compete in terms of longevity or speed of application.
The BDA has urged the four CDOs to:
- Urgently address the impact of the direct application of the EU regulation to Northern Ireland
- Adopt a renewed focus on prevention to reduce the need for dental restorations
- Work with industry to secure an ongoing supply of amalgam
- Work with the BDA to ensure that there is no financial impact on dentists from the need to use alternative materials
The worry
MEPS backed amendments that state the Member States must “ensure appropriate reimbursement is made available for mercury-free alternatives” to limit the socio-economic impact.
This is especially what the UK Government needs, as the NHS is already in crisis.
Without appropriate action, the ban is expected to eat into clinical time and resources, which are already in short supply and can create further access barriers to care.
There is no indication of where the millions in additional funding will come from or the workforce required to carry out the tens of thousands of additional clinical hours.
“When we are set to lose a key weapon in the treatment of tooth decay, all four UK Governments appear asleep at the wheel”, says BDA Chair Eddie Crouch. “Without decisive action, this could be the straw that breaks the back of NHS dentistry.”
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