GLRPPR: Help Desk Archive

Help Desk Archive

Dentistry
Question submitted on 11/30/11

Could you please give information on the percentage of mercury in dental amalgam in modern practice? Previously, it was~ 50%.

Answer:

According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration, dental amalgam is approximately 50% elemental mercury by weight (http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171094.htm).

There are mercury-free alternatives to dental amalgam. See http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171108.htm for more information.

For more information, see:

U.S. EPA > Dental Amalgam
http://www.epa.gov/hg/dentalamalgam.html

Centers for Disease Control > Dental Amalgam Use and Benefits
http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/publications/factsheets/amalgam.htm

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