A significant declaration towards stopping the use of mercury dental amalgam in the treatment of pregnant women, nursing mother and children by 2018 by BDS
Bangladesh Dental Society (BDS) declared that mercury dental amalgam should not be used in the treatment of pregnant women, nursing mother and children after June, 2018. This declaration was announced by Dr. Humayun Kabir Bulbul, Secretary General, BDS through a press briefing which was organized by ESDO along with BDS at Dhaka Reporters Unity on 10 March, 2018.
Syed Marghub Murshed, Former Secretary, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Chairperson of ESDO presided over the event. Among others Dr. Md. Abul Kashem, president, BDS; Dr. Humayun Kabir Bulbul, Secretary General, BDS; Dr. Shahriar Hossain, Executive Vice President of World Alliance and Siddika Sultana, Executive Director, ESDO were present at the conference.
Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, tin, silver and copper containing mercury as the major component. It has been used in dental treatment to fill cavities throughout the world for more than 150 years. But the vapor that released from mercury is a major concern at present. Mercury vapor enter into the central nervous system through the blood brain barrier and is responsible for different kinds of immunological, neurological and physiological problems. Fetuses and children are at most risk because they possess nervous system of developing stage.
Considering the detrimental health impacts of mercury, Bangladesh signed the Minamata Convention, an international treaty to phase out all sorts of mercury uses, and this is high time to drain out the use of mercury amalgam in dental treatment to save people as well as environment from the consequential fatal effects of mercury.
Dr. Humayun Kabir Bulbul said, “Since Minamata Convention has already entered into force and be an international law, Bangladesh is ought to phase out mercury added products by 2020 as a signatory of the convention.” Dr. Kabir said, if a childbearing woman or breastfeeding mother has silver filling in her teeth, the fetus will be exposed to mercury released from the filling throughout the gestation period as it passes via placenta into the fetus. This is very damaging to neurological development because fetus doesn’t have a well-developed and effective blood brain barrier. Mercury also passes into breast milk and affects the nursing baby. So BDS have been committed to phase out mercury dental amalgam in Bangladesh by 2020 and its enforcement steps will be taken by 2018; He stated that, as part of BDS & ESDO joint initiative and in solidarity with the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry movement this is the 1st and significant initiative that has taken by BDS to stop amalgam to Children and nursing mother by June 2018.
“I am hopeful that since Bangladesh is a signatory country of Minamata convention, Government will pay much attention to introduce regulations to stop mercury amalgam in dental treatment,” said Syed Marghub Murshed, Former Secretary, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Chairperson of ESDO in this press briefing.
Dr. Md. Abul Kashem, president, BDS said, “Mercury threatens not only our lives but also our environment. While many countries have already disallowed mercury amalgam, we, the people of Bangladesh, are far behind. For protecting our future, the use of mercury in dental treatment has to be outlawed right now”.
“Today’s declaration of BDS signifies a way forward towards phasing out dental amalgam for the treatment of the most vulnerable groups of its toxicity. A concrete regulation from the government alongside is an urge for the early ratification of the convention”, said Dr. Shahriar Hossain, Executive Vice President of World Alliance.
“In 2013 Bangladesh signed Minamata Convention, the global treaty to phase out all sorts of mercury uses to protect human health and environment from its detrimental effects. On that account this declaration will be an effective move towards supporting the convention,” said Siddika Sultana, Executive Director, ESDO.
As Bangladesh is a signatory country of Minamata Convention, BDS together with ESDO forwarded to phase out mercury amalgam in dental treatment through this written declaration which cited that dentistry in Bangladesh would put an end to the use of mercury amalgam in the treatment of pregnant woman, nursing mother and children within June, 2018. In accordance with that they made an urge to the Government to officially prohibit the use and export of mercury and mercury containing products. This declaration will act as an effective lightener towards the way of mercury-free dentistry.
