February 22, 2023
Pursuant to Proclamation No. 559, February is declared as National Dental Health Month in the Philippines with this year’s theme being ”Ngiting Protektado, Ngiping Panalo.”
In support of National Dental Health Month, BAN Toxics, an environmental health watchdog enjoins the nation to support the call to stop the use of dental amalgam in children and caring mothers. Dental amalgam is used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay and is a mixture of metals including liquid mercury. Mercury in turn is considered one of the most toxic chemicals globally, with adverse impacts to the environment and human health.
In 2020, the Philippine Government signed the Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2020-0020 which phases out the use of mercury in dental restorative procedures for children and caring mothers. This was followed by Food and Drug Administration Memorandum Circular 2022-03 which bans the use of mercury-containing devices in dental institutions. Both policies are in support of the Philippines’ responsibilities to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Jam Lorenzo from the organization’s Policy Development and Research Unit states that “BAN Toxics continues to advocate for a total ban on dental amalgam in dental industries within and outside of the Philippines. Dental amalgam is a significant contributor to the emission and release of mercury, a highly toxic substance that impacts communities and the environment in various ways. We call on dental practitioners to shift to safer alternatives, and for distributors and manufacturers to cease the production of dental amalgam for a safer future for our children.”
Let’s ban mercury dental amalgam for A BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND A HEALTHIER FUTURE!