FDI resolution on Global legally binding instrument on mercury

INTRODUCTION

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) via the intergovernmental negotiating committee is preparing a global legally binding instrument on mercury to be presented to UNEP Governing Council in January 2013.

As a consequence of this treaty, the use of amalgam may be restricted, phased down, phased out or even banned. Any restriction of the dental materials currently available to the profession would have serious consequences; therefore the following resolution was presented for consideration at the FDI World Dental Parliament in Hong Kong, August 2012.

With this resolution position FDI and its partners directly support the World Health Organisation phase-down of the use of dental amalgam¹ through increased prevention, health promotion and research on advanced chemotherapeutic and restorative materials, to ensure that dental materials continue to be used in a manner that respects and protects the environment.

IT IS OF RELEVANCE TO NOTE THAT

• •Oral health and general health are inextricably linked
• •Oral diseases are some of the most prevalent diseases in the world, even though these diseases can be prevented or treated through safe and cost-effective health care
• •The profession of dentistry needs all currently available dental materials to provide safe and effective oral health care to help address health and socio-economic issues
• •The resolution is consistent with, and builds on those passed at General Assemblies in 2009, 2010 and 2011
• •This is the final opportunity to advocate to governments for keeping amalgam as a filling/treatment option and
• •National dental associations need to be aware of the consequences for dentistry and oral health in their own country’s legislative and regulatory systems.

IT IS RESOLVED THAT

The FDI World Dental Federation and its partners wish to work with national dental associations to support governments to:

• •Improve the public’s awareness of the importance of oral health and linkage to general health
• •Increase emphasis on the three basic public health principles of needs assessment, disease prevention and health promotion
• •Ensure that health and the environment are protected through health-care providers’ safe handling practices, effective waste management and appropriate disposal of dental restorative material (environmentally sound lifecycle management)
• •Ensure that dentists have the full complement of dental restorative materials available and
• •Work with the dental profession in establishing a comprehensive global dental materials research agenda, alongside expanded preventive approaches.