Amalgam phase-out, an environmental safety concern: a crosssectional study among general dental practitioners in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Amalgam has been the gold standard for restorations in posterior teeth. Mercury, a major component of dental amalgam, is considered an environmental pollutant. The Minamata Convention on mercury dictates the reduction in the use of mercury-containing products. Since Pakistan is a signatory to the convention, the same amalgam phase-out limitations are implemented in Pakistan. Aim: To identify and assess the use of amalgam and its waste management by dentists in Pakistan post-Minamata Convention guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore among 520 general dental practitioners in 2019. Results: The sample size for the study was calculated as 500; the questionnaire was distributed among 550 dentists. Dental amalgam was used by only 41.6% of the dentists in their practice; 55.0% perceived it to be a health risk. Most of the dentists (76.3%) were unaware of the proper disposal protocols for dental amalgam and 76.5% were unaware of any guidelines regarding amalgam use and disposal. Conclusion: Although there is gap in knowledge among the dentists when it comes to amalgam disposal, dentists in Pakistan are reducing their use of dental amalgam in accordance with the guidelines of the Minamata Convention.

Awareness of the Green Dentistry Concept among Dental Professionals in Tertiary Care Dental Hospital, Rawalpindi

“…A cross-sectional study was carried out among dental practitioners in Lahore, Pakistan regarding the use and disposal of amalgam waste. It concluded that there was a significant gap in the familiarity of dentists pertaining to the use and proper disposal of amalgam, where approximately 76% of respondents were uninformed about the disposal of dental amalgam and the guidelines of 7,8 Minamata Convention. In the 1960s and 1970s, Rachel Carson, a conservationist, began an environmental movement 9 with the publication of his book "The Silent Spring".…”

Attitudes and Knowledge of dentists in Pakistan regarding the use of Dental Amalgam as a restorative material

“…7,8 Research by Aggarwal in UK found significant reduction in use of amalgam, following Minamata convention, in spite of this 42% of restoration during 2015 to 2016 comprised of amalgam 9 . Another research by Khan evaluated the knowledge of dentist in Lahore regarding amalgam, this study focused on assessing the knowledge regarding use and waste management of amalgam 10 . To the best of authors knowledge there is lack of studies in Pakistan following the Minamata Convention that has assessed the knowledge of Pakistani dentist regarding the safe use of amalgam in dental practices.…”