Stakeholders Call for End to Dental Amalgam

Government at all levels in Africa have been called upon to phase out dental amalgam in dentistry. The call was made in Benin City, capital of Edo State, by stakeholders at a briefing on phasedown of dental amalgam in Nigeria.

The stakeholders comprised Edo State Ministries of Health and Environment, represented by Mrs. H. C. Enunwaonye and Mr. Godfrey Edwin, respectively; Charles Brown, President, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry; secretary, Nigeria Dental Association, Edo State, Dr. Abhulimen Franklin; Executive Director, SRADER Nigeria/ Chairman, Civil Society Group on phase-out Dental Amalgam use in Nigeria, Dr. Reslie Adohame; and Dr. Phillip Goddie of the University of Benin, among others.

In their goodwill messages, the various stakeholders, listed the harmful effects of amal- gam to include, neurological and reproductive problems such damage to the brain, kidney and foetuses.

According to them, much of mercury from amalgam released into the environment can contaminate fish and damage children’s developing brains and nervous systems.

In his welcome address, the National Vice Chairman, Civil Society Group on phase down of Dental Amalgam in Nigeria, Dr. Tom Aneni, said the stakeholders meeting was a follow-up to a similar forum held October 31 last year. Aneni said amalgam was a chemical substance used by dentists to fill cavities during treatment, adding that it contains mercury, which is of global concern owing to its long range atmospheric transport, persistent in the environment.

According to him, “Dental Amalgam, a filling for cavities, is about 50 per cent mercury, a neurotoxin and a pollutant that knows no borders.”