Mercury use by dentists hazardous

Dental amalgams, which are used to fill cavity caused by tooth decay, contain about 50 per cent of mercury and other toxic metals such as silver, tin, copper, zinc, etc., and are not safe

Use of mercury in dental sector, especially in the rural and unorganised sector in Delhi, is leading to mercury poisoning which has serious health impacts, say experts.

Dental amalgams, which are used to fill cavity caused by tooth decay, contain about 50 per cent of mercury and other toxic metals such as silver, tin, copper, zinc, etc., and are not safe.

While the presence of mercury in the patient leads to mercury poisoning, there is also a chance of mercury spillage in the clinic.

“Even a few drop of mercury is enough to pollute a huge kale. Similarly, if mercury is spilled in a clinic, it can be very dangerous both for the patients who visit that clinic and the staff working there,” said Lt. Gen. Vimal Arora (Retd), chief clinical officer of Clove Dental, a leading chain of dental clinics.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), about 260 to 340 tonnes of mercury is annually released into the environment globally from the use

of dental amalgam, which is being used for over 150 years for tooth cavities.

Mercury is considered by World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern. Exposure to mercury — even in small amount — may cause serious health problems and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. It may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.

Lt. Gen. Arora said that awareness of health effects of mercury is not much among the general population. Dentists generally do not explain to their patients the impact of mercury filling on their health.