Dental amalgam : What is the future ? must We continue teaching amalgam ?

Issues related to dental amalgam use and teaching were raised in two major events: a Symposium held at USP in September 2014, coordinated by Professors Leonardo Eloy Rodrigues Filho and Míriam Lacalle Turbino; and a Symposium held in January 2015 during the XXI Meeting of the Brazilian Group of Operative Dentistry Professors (GBPD), coordinated by Prof. Camillo Anauatte Netto, activated by Prof. Maria Fidela de Lima Navarro, and lectured by Professors Katia Dias Cervantes and Sergio Vieira.


Dental amalgam restoration Photo courtesy Prof . Carlos Rocha Gomes Torres
What is its future of Dental Amalgam?Should we keep teaching dental amalgam at Dental Schools?
The eradication of Dental Amalgam subject in some Brazilian Universities and the environmental defense activity groups created a controversial discussion within the University community.
Issues related to dental amalgam use and teaching were raised in two major events: a Symposium held at USP in September 2014, coordinated by Professors Leonardo Eloy Rodrigues Filho and Míriam Lacalle Turbino; and a Symposium held in January 2015 during the XXI Meeting of the Brazilian Group of Operative Dentistry Professors (GBPD), coordinated by Prof. Camillo Anauatte Netto, activated by Prof. Maria Fidela de Lima Navarro, and lectured by Professors Katia Dias Cervantes and Sergio Vieira.BDS brings to you readers, with great satisfaction, the results of discussions and decisions on the dental amalgam issue, in editorials written by the coordinators of those symposia.
Scientific and educational concerns and the clinical applicability od Dental Amalgam, associated with the socio-economic condition of the country, launched the idea of sharing these important decisions.
We feel privileged to participate in this historic moment for science and education in Brazil.

Sérgio Eduardo de Paiva Gonçalves
Editor-in-Chief In conclusion, the dental amalgam should continue as undergraduate teaching content and the educational institutions and dental professional associations should join efforts to find alternatives for the management of wastes.

Associate
Dental amalgam -What is the future of eDucation?
Preventive actions, with consequent reduction of caries lesions, combined with improvements in composite resins, which has great appeal to be an aesthetic material, have significantly reduced the demand for dental amalgam.Accordingly, it also corroborates the fear about the possible effects of mercury, for both professionals and patients and the environment.
More recently, due to the Minamata Convention, a protocol was formulated to reduce, control and even eliminate mercury-containing products.However, there is no deadline for dental amalgam replacement, since it depends on the development of new materials.
As a consequence of this scenario, in October 2014, a symposium was held in FOUSP whose theme is the title of this editorial.Dental school professors from all over Brazil were present, as well as professionals of the public and private area and also representatives of professional associations.In the occasion, it was reaffirmed that there is still no restorative material capable of fully replace amalgam for its clinical performance qualities, greater longevity and cost significantly lower than composite resins.Thus, by having unique properties, with marginal self-sealing, the amalgam continues to have an important indication for oral health promotion.
On the other hand, to prevent any harmful consequence for the use of mercury, should be choose the pre-dosed capsules material, use filters, protective equipment and the wastes should be stored in tightly sealed containers containing aqueous sulfur solution to sending for recycling.During the XXI Meeting of the Brazilian Group of Operative Dentistry Professors, held in Belém, PA from 14 to 17 January 2015, took place the Symposium: Should we continue teaching amalgam?Professors Katia Regina HC Dias, FO UFRJ and Sergio Roberto Vieira, PUCPR made presentations on the subject and the Professor Maria Fidela de Lima Navarro was activating the symposium.
In summary the speakers reported: In 1956 one of the ten greatest tragedies of humanity, called "Minamata disaster" was announced: the criminal eviction for almost 30 years of 27 tons of Hg in the Bay of Minamata, Japan, from a plastic industry caused the death of 900 people and serious injuries to more than 2200.Since then a worldwide movement to ban the use of mercury in the world started.
In October 10, 2013, in Japan, representatives from more than 140 countries signed the Minamata Convention, which states: By 2020 -elimination of Hg in various materials (eg soaps, thermometers, blood pressure gauges, fluorescent lamps).
Phase down -amalgam restorations in the world.The amalgam fillings were not affected by the ban, however, the treaty suggests some provisions for the phase down of use of this material without requiring prohibitive measures or term of banishment.
The International Association for Dental Research (IADR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Dental Federation (FDI) and dental materials-producing companies contributed to the negotiations related to dental amalgam, suggesting greater attention to prevention and promotion of dental health, increased research and development of alternative materials and best amalgam waste management techniques.
The Study Group on the Rational Use of Dental Amalgam FO UFRJ conducted a survey within 253 dental specialists in various regions of Brazil and found that 94% of the restorations made in dental services or clinics, where these professionals work, are composite resins, 4% are glass ionomer cements and 2% are amalgams.
Professors of the PUCPR conducted an informal survey of public services and found that about 56% of the restorations made were amalgams.These professors also reported that there is demand for training active dentists in public services to perform amalgam fillings.
These observations show that in private practices and in university clinics the use of amalgam restorations has already decreased, while in the public services there is still a strong demand for its use and that professionals are not properly qualified to perform this function well.
At the end of the event, after extensive discussions on the subject, the participants considered that there is still great demand for amalgam fillings, that with proper manipulation of the material health adverse effects do not occur and that the restoration technique with amalgam assists in the development of skills needed for the dental practice.Put to a vote, the recommendation to continue teaching amalgam in Brazilian Universities was approved unanimously.A BDS traz a você leitor, com imensa satisfação, o balanço das discussões e decisões sobre a questão do amálgama dental discutidas nos simpósios, em editoriais escritos pelos coordenadores dos eventos.
Professor doi: 10.14295/bds.2015.v18i1.1131E D I T O R I A L Prof. Leonardo Eloy Rodrigues Filho Profª Míriam Lacalle Turbino Symposium organizers Dental amalgam -What is the future of education?FO/USO Anauate Netto Profª Maria Fidela de Lima NavarroMembers of the organizing committee of the XXI Meeting of the Brazilian Group of Operative Dentistry Professors must We continue teaching Dental amalgam ?