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Overview
Dental amalgam (or "silver filling") is a durable metal alloy comprised of silver, copper and tin, in addition to mercury, which binds these components into a hard, stable substance. It has been used to safely restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans.
Dental amalgam has an indisputable record of safety, which the scientific community has extensively reviewed and affirmed. Moreover, the ADA encourages dental offices to follow its Best Management Practices for Amalgam Waste, which will help reduce any effects of amalgam waste on the environment.
- Amalgam Safety. The ADA recognizes dental amalgam (silver filling) as a safe and effective restorative material and will oppose efforts to ban or otherwise restrict its use.
- Amalgam Separators. The ADA encourages the recycling of waste amalgam in the dental office and strongly supports the voluntary use of amalgam separators.
- FDA Device Classification. The ADA supports the FDA's proposal to classify encapsulated amalgam as a Class II medical device.
- Continued Research. The ADA welcomes calls for additional research to ensure the profession and the public have the most current, scientifically valid information on which to base treatment decisions involving restorative materials.
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Letters and Testimony
- December 21, 2007—Comments on the EPA's proposals to study an amalgam pretreatment requirement for dental offices. | PDF file/1MB
- November 14, 2007—Testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Domestic Policy Subcommittee, on the regulation of dental amalgam and its impact on the environment. | PDF file/23k
- October 25, 2007—Comments by the ADA, et al., on the draft Mercury in Products Phase-Down Strategy. | PDF file/37k
- September 7, 2006—Statement welcoming calls for additional studies on the safety of dental amalgam fillings.
- September 7, 2006—Testimony of Dr. Milton V. Marshall to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) Dental Products Advisory Panel, supporting the safety of dental amalgam.
| PDF file/118k
- September 6, 2006—Testimony of Dr. Amid Ismail to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) Dental Products Advisory Panel, supporting the safety of dental amalgam.
| PDF file/37k
- September 6, 2006—Testimony of Dr. Ronald R. Zentz to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) Dental Products Advisory Panel, supporting the safety of dental amalgam. | PDF file/44k
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ADA Resources
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Additional Resources
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Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
Federal Affairs
1111 14th Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202.898.2400
Fax: 202.898.2437
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
State Government Affairs
ADA Chicago Headquarters
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312.440.2525
Fax: 312.440.3539
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
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