Prohibition to use dental amalgam

From 1 June 2009, it will be prohibited to use dental amalgam in ordinary dental care in Sweden and there will be a total ban to use it in the dental care of children and youth.

In Sweden, the use of amalgam has been reduced by 90 per cent since 1997. In 2003, only 2-5 per cent of all new fillings were made with amalgam. Amalgam is still used for certain groups of patients within the hospital dental care. The Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare have agreed on the necessity of a time-limited exemption to use amalgam in the dental care of adult patients until 30 June 2012, if there are particular medical reasons for doing so and where other treatments have been judged to be insufficient.

It is allowed to place mercury on the market until 31 December 2011 for the manufacture of dental amalgam and amalgam as such is allowed on the market until 31 December 2011.

Duty to report and to make notes

An obligation for the hospital dental care sector to report their intention to use amalgam will be initiated to evaluate the need for the exemption. The National Board of Health and Welfare must be notified before the first treatment with amalgam starts. There is no requirement to report the next treatments made at the same clinic. Information must be noted on patient particulars, medical reasons for using amalgam and the amount used.

National Board of Health and Welfare.

Activities in the EU

About 120 tonnes of mercury are used annually in dental care in the EU. This is the largest single use of mercury in products within the EU.