5. FDA Recommendations for Amalgam (OP 21 on Canvas)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing recommendations about the use of dental amalgam in certain groups of people who may be at greater risk to the potential adverse health effects of mercury exposure, to include:

• Pregnant women and their developing fetuses

• Women who are planning to become pregnant

• Nursing women and their newborns and infants

• Children, especially those younger than six years of age

• People with pre-existing neurological disease

• People with impaired kidney function

• and People with known heightened sensitivity (allergy) to mercury or other components of dental amalgam.

The FDA ____ ____ recommend anyone remove or replace existing amalgam fillings in good condition unless it is considered _________ ______ by a health care professional

The FDA does not recommend anyone remove or replace existing amalgam fillings in good condition unless it is considered medically necessary by a health care professional

At this time, the FDA ___ ___ find the available evidence supports a complete ban of the use of dental amalgam as the weight of the existing evidence does not show that exposure to mercury from dental amalgam leads to adverse effects

At this time, the FDA does not find the available evidence supports a complete ban of the use of dental amalgam as the weight of the existing evidence does not show that exposure to mercury from dental amalgam leads to _____ effects

Why should you avoid the term “ silver filling” when discussing treatment with patients

Because it implies the filling is just silver and minimizes the role of mercury

Avoid placing amalgam next to

Other metals, galvanization may occur