Workplace Hazards Associated with Amalgam Dental professionals face the hazards of amalgam’s mercury everyday in their workplace, most of them with no protection against mercury exposure.... Workplace Mercury Exposure Dental professionals – including dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental office staff – can be exposed to mercury in their workplace, both directly and indirectly:
This exposure to mercury in the workplace would explain....
Courtesy - Campaign for Mercury-Free Dentistry - www.toxicteeth.org
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Tooth Damage Associated with Amalgam On top of the risks of mercury exposure, amalgam is not even good for teeth. Oral Health Damage Amalgam can harm your oral health by....
Environmental Problems Associated with Amalgam Mercury amalgam dental fillings have an impact far beyond your mouth – they are one of the most significant sources of mercury pollution today. Superior modern alternatives to amalgam preserve healthy tooth structure and actually strengthen teeth, leading to better oral health and less extensive dental work over the long-term. Quantity of Dental Mercury Between 270 and 341 tonnes of mercury are consumed globally for use in amalgam each year. Accounting for at least 10% of global mercury consumption, amalgam is among the largest consumer uses of mercury in the world. Pathways to the environmentDental mercury enters the environment via many different pathways. For example, dental mercury pollutes:
After amalgam enters the environment, certain microorganisms can change its elemental mercury into methylmercury, a highly toxic form of mercury that builds up in fish, shellfish, and people that eat fish. Methylmercury can damage children’s developing brains and nervous systems even before they are born Environmental Costs After environmental costs are taken into account, amalgam is significantly more expensive than the mercury-free fillings. According to the 2012 report The Real Cost of Dental Mercury, an amalgam filling can cost up to $87 (USD) more than an equivalent mercury-free composite filling, once the full lifecycle costs of each filling is taken into account. Minamata Convention The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The Convention requires each party to “phase down the use of dental amalgam.” It also addresses amalgam in Annex A, where it can be amended later to set a phase-out date for this toxic mercury product. The United States government has signed this Convention, but so far taken no step to effectively phase down amalgam use. Courtesy - Campaign for Mercury-Free Dentistry - www.toxicteeth.org
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AuthorSocial Circle Dental is a holistic dental practice devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art procedures, while focusing on your overall health and well-being. Archives
September 2024
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