Amalgam to tooth-coloured materials--implications for clinical practice and dental education: governmental restrictions and amalgam-usage survey results.
OBJECTIVE
To review governmental guidelines on amalgam use worldwide and to assess trends in the usage of amalgam and composite materials in restoration of posterior teeth.


METHODS
A letter was sent to 24 government health agencies or representative organisations requesting details of regulations pertaining to amalgam use. A literature search was carried out in order to identify papers in which the incidence of amalgam and composite restorations was stated.


RESULTS
Ten replies were received, indicating few restrictions on the use of amalgam. Results obtained from published work appear to indicate that amalgam use is declining, but at rates which are unclear in many countries because of the paucity of published data. Amalgam use has been found to be decreasing in the USA, Australia and Scandinavia, with lesser decreases being apparent in the UK.


CONCLUSIONS
There are few restrictions to the use of amalgam worldwide. In countries where data are available, such as USA, Australia and Scandinavia, amalgam use has been found to be decreasing, with smaller decreases being apparent in the UK.
Burke
F J Trevor
FJ
Department of Adult Dental Care, Primary Dental Care Research Group, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, St Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK. f.j.t.burke@bham.ac.uk
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003188:Composite Resins; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
D003188:Composite Resins; D003723:Dental Amalgam