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| AUSTRALIA Unknown |
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Unknown |
| AUSTRIA Recommendations  |
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 In 1993, the Health Minister promised a mercury-free Austria before the year 2000.Vision 2020 is a prophylaxis-programme to minimize the risks of caries until the year 2020. The recommendations of the Ministry of Health, accorded between politicians, scientists and practioners:  1. Prophylaxis is the effective way to avoid using amalgams and other dental materials. 2. No amalgam in milk-tooth. 3. During pregnancy and lactation - if it is possible- no amalgams (filling or removing).If removing is indicated it should be done under special care (rubber dam etc.). No removing of intact fillings. 4. No amalgam-indication for patients with reduced function of kidney and degenerative diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system. Special care in case of removing. 5. No amalgam for retrograde root-filling and under crowns and bridges. 6. Using of alternative materials in case of allergy against some dental materials. 7. Using of compatible dental materials, if they are available. |
| CANADA No limitations |
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A proposition from 1995 to limit the number of amalgam fillings per person was not accepted. Dentists should provide patients with sufficient information to enable them to make an informed choice regarding the material used to fill their teeth. Amalgams should not be placed in patients with impaired kidney function and should be avoided, if possible, in pregnant women and in children. Amalgam fillings should not be placed in contact with existing metal devices in the mouth. |
| DENMARK No limitations |
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If suitable replacement materials are available, no more amalgam will be used after 1.1.1999. |
| FINLAND Recommendations |
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Dental amalgam will be phased out by the year 2000. In January 1996, the Finnish medical organization made a statement against the placement and removal of amalgam during pregnancy and breast-feeding, some of the population suffer from Hg, otherwise amalgam is not replaced. It was also mentioned that the CNS, kidneys and brain are critical organs for mercury exposure. |
| FRANCE Unknown |
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Unknown |
| GERMANY Restrictive Recommendations |
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Dr. Tamara Zinke, Institut for Pharmaceuticals of
the Health Ministry, 1992, noted that dental alloys will in the future fall under
pharmaceutical laws. Until such time the following recommendations should be
followed: 1. Use of dental alloys that are low in corrosion only. 2. Amount of different alloys in a mouth of a patient have to be kept to a minimum. 3. No use of palladium-copper dental alloys without proof of biocompatibility. 4. Determination of a "No-effect-level" in humans for palladium (reference made to Estler, C.J.: wie toxisch is Palladium?, Dtsch. Zahnaerztliche Z. 47 (1992) 361 (How toxic is palladium?, German Dentristry Newspaper 47 (1992) 361) 5. Issuance of a dental alloy passport for patients showing exact information about the mix of alloys being used. 6. Better information and training about dental alloys for dentists and dental laboratories. 7. for reasons of patient protection and as a practical help for the dentist, a list of dental alloys, which have been scientifically proven to be biocompatible, should be immediately issued. Withdrawal of one type of amalgam. Severe kidney disease must be diagnosed by two doctors not to have amalgam. For the repair of small holes, glass-ionomers may be used. Caution is recommended in the use of amalgam in "Pregnancy", "Kidney Disease" and "Children aged 1-7" in these cases alternative materials are paid for by the patient. |
| ICELAND No limitations |
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Report: "amalgam is no longer a hot topic in Iceland, because the Department of Health competently handled the situation." |
| ISRAEL No limitations |
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The Israel Ministry of Health has decided that they have no objection to the use of amalgam. |
| ITALY Unknown |
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Unknown |
| JAPAN Dentist |
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Dental students are no longer required to produce amalgam fillings specifically, although the Japan Dental Association does not recommend the replacement of amalgam with other materials. |
| MEXICO Unknown |
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Unknown |
| NEW ZEALAND Unknown |
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Unknown |
| NORWAY No limitations |
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Waiting on 1997 determination. |
| SOUTH AFRICA Unknown |
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Unknown |
| SWEDEN Recommendations |
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In 1996 a register of adverse effects from dental materials was established. The goal was to stop the use of amalgam by 1.1.1997. Waiting on follow up. Recommendations to not use amalgam during pregnancy remains in effect since 1988.To avoid corrosion mercury and gold should not be mixed.Replacement in some cases is free for the patient. |
| SWITZERLAND No limitations |
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New recommendations are expected.
Palladium-copper alloys are banned. |
| TURKEY Unknown |
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Unknown |
| UNITED KINGDOM Recommendations |
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Pregnent women were advised on the 29th April 1998: Not to have or to have Amalgam tooth fillings removed. |
| UNITED NATIONS Environmental |
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Fish and Pollution warnings only. |
| UNITED STATES No limitations |
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In the state of California, dentists are to post a mercury-filling warning in their clinic saying that mercury can cause birth defects, has not been enforced. Free mercury fillings to low income, pregnant mothers and children. |
| HELSINKI CONVENTION Recommendations |
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HELCOM
RECOMMENDATION 6/4 Adopted 13 March 1985, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING MEASURES AIMED AT THE REDUCTION OF MERCURY RESULTING FROM DENTISTRY
THE COMMISSION, RECALLING that according to Article 6 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention) , the Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to control and strictly limit pollution by noxious substances,
RECALLING ALSO that Annex II of the Helsinki Convention defines mercury as a noxious substance for the purposes of Article 6 of the Convention,
RECOGNIZING the relative importance of dentistry as the source of pollution by mercury,
BEING MINDFUL of the pollution caused by emissions of mercury resulting from dentistry,
DESIRING to limit this pollution by reducing mercury emissions from dental clinics, laboratories and surgeries,
RECOMMENDS to the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention that arrangements for collection of waste containing mercury from dental clinics, laboratories and surgeries should be established for such undertakings that start operating after the end of 1986 and for those already in operation before that date not later than the end of 1988,
RECOMMENDS ALSO that elaborating new mercury-free materials for tooth fillings should be encouraged and the use of mercury containing materials for this purpose should, whenever possible, be abandoned,
RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the Contracting Parties report to the Commission data on the existing and available technique one year after the adoption of this Recommendation.
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