The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region is urging stronger collaboration between health and environmental authorities to accelerate the transition away from mercury-containing dental amalgam and promote sustainable oral healthcare across member countries. The renewed push follows the decision adopted at the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2025, which established a global target to phase out dental amalgam by 2034. The move signals a shift from reducing amalgam use to eliminating it entirely, prompting countries to begin translating international commitments into national policies.
WHO highlighted that replacing dental amalgam is not only an environmental initiative but also an opportunity to advance prevention-focused, minimally invasive oral healthcare while expanding access to safe, mercury-free restorative materials. The…
