It is now Official
Norway Sweden and Denmark
BAN the use of Dental Mercury Amalgam
On Friday 28 March, Reuters News Agency announced that
"Dental Mercury Use Banned in Norway, Sweden and Denmark"
The article continues with:
OSLO, Norway, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Norway recently announced a ban on the use of mercury, including dental amalgam,
that took effect on January 1, 2008.
Sweden announced a similar ban and dentists in
Denmark will no longer be allowed to use mercury in fillings after April 1, 2008."By eliminating amalgam use, which is 50% mercury, we can reduce
mercury pollution much more efficiently than end-of-the-pipeline solutions.""Mercury is among the most dangerous environmental toxins.
Satisfactory alternatives to mercury in products are available,
and it is therefore fitting to introduce a ban," said Solheim.The Swedish amalgam ban is for both environmental and health issues,
according to authorities.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS108558+03-Jan-2008+PRN20080103) When will the health authorities in Australia, Great Britain and America
take the necessary action and responsibility to follow these leading nations? When will the dental establishment accept the fact that they promote the poisoning of patients & members of the dental profession
and the mindless pollution of the environment?
When will integrity take the place of greed and subordination?
When will the dental authorities do the job that they are employed to do -
protect the pubic from dangerous dental practices?
********************************Following is the Response from the Australian Dental Association to the bans imposed by Norway, Sweden and Denmark on the use of mercury releasing dental amalgam fillings.
“Australian Dental Association News Bulletin March 2008
“President’s Comments” Page 3
Author John Mathews - Federal PresidentAMALGAM
Norway moved over the Christmas period to ban amalgam as a filling material and it is likely that other Scandinavian countries will follow suit. The Norwegian Government, as a significant third party funder of dental services, has this power. (Don't you hate third parties directing clinical decisions!) The decision was made on environmental grounds and because "composite was an acceptable alternative". As an older dentist I would hate to lose the option of amalgam as an inexpensive material in certain circumstances. Certainly the disposal of surgery waste is a problem. The ADAVB is about to develop a disposal programme with a happy union of the EPA, ADA and the dental industry. I expect other states will follow.”
Robert Gammal Comment:
Clearly the Australian Dental Association, as represented by its Federal President, Dr Mathews, has low regard for the findings of the health authorities in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The insult to these authorities is clear in that they are called a ‘third party’ who is directing clinical decisions. Since when was the implantation of mercury into living human beings the realm of a dentist’s clinical decision? The dental associations world wide have refused to take responsibility for this mass poisoning.It is timely that some governments in the world are taking responsibility.
Reuters News agency states; “The Swedish amalgam ban is for both environmental and health issues, according to authorities...”
Perhaps the Federal President did not read the report clearly or just forgot (forgetfulness and poor comprehension are caused by mercury poisoning).
He states that “As an older dentist I would hate to lose the option of amalgam as an inexpensive material in certain circumstances.”
It seems to me that as an older dentist he has seriously lost the plot. Perpetuating the paternalistic and arrogant old argument of cost-effectiveness is pathetic when we are talking about human and environmental health – not that they are different accept in the mind of Dr Mathews. Perhaps he really believes that it is a safe and effective filling material or surely he would not use it - or perhaps he is himself so mercury poisoned that he is unable to make reasonablely informed decisions.
This clear admission from the Federal President of the Australian Dental Association that he continues to use and promote mercury amalgam, flies in the face of well documented science and the responsible action of some governments in the world.
He does not care that both the environment and the patients are seriously at risk from mercury exposure caused by amalgam fillings. Neither does he seem to care that the continued promotion of this toxic waste also puts at risk the very members of this association. There seems to be no concern for the wellbeing of the dental personnel. His older-dentist-clinical-decision-making seems to be seriously compromised.I would suggest that the Australian Dental Association find a better representative than one who openly has disregard and distaste for the wellbeing of his patients, the environment and even the membership of this organisation. Even the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia has warned against the use of amalgam in pregnant women, children and people with kidney disorders. Perhaps Dr Mathews has contemptuous disregard for his own health-authority warnings. I wonder if they interfere with his clinical decision making.
Perhaps Dr Mathew’s happy union with the EPA etc will be held underground with the other mad hatters.
I too am an older dentist (graduated 1974) – one who has not used amalgam for over twenty years. I personally am appalled at the blatant disregard this man shows for anyone’s wellbeing.
