Opinion on the Safety of Dental Amalgam and Alternative Dental Restoration Materials for Patients and Users.

Author: Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks.

Source: N/A

Year: 2015

Comment:

Abstract / Excerpt:

The SCENIHR concludes that current evidence does not preclude the use of either amalgam or alternative materials in dental restorative treatment. However, the choice of material should be based on patient characteristics such as primary or permanent teeth, pregnancy, the presence of allergies to mercury or other components of restorative materials, and the presence of impaired renal clearance…..The SCENIHR recognises that there is a need for further research, particularly relating to (i) evaluation of the potential neurotoxicity of mercury from dental amalgam and the effect of genetic polymorphisms on mercury toxicity and (ii) to expand knowledge of the toxicity profile of alternative dental restorative materials. Furthermore, there is a need for the development of new alternative materials with a high degree of biocompatibility.

Citation: Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks. Opinion on the Safety of Dental Amalgam and Alternative Dental Restoration Materials for Patients and Users. European Union, 2015.