Future use of materials for dental restoration

FDI fully supports the findings and conclusions of the WHO report on the Future Use of Materials for Dental Restoration,published in 2009.

1. Health promotion, risk assessment & disease prevention
  • Call for national prevention programmes for dental caries and associated health promotion programmes.

"Importance of strengthening oral health promotion and disease prevention as the strategy to reduce the use of all restorative dental materials".

2. Waste Management
  • Call for the adoption of Best Management Practices (BMP) for amalgam waste, including use of the ISO 11143 standard amalgam separator in dental offices and facilities, taking into consideration the circumstances of each nation.

"Using amalgam separators, together with other measures of BMP, can significantly reduce mercury discharge to the environment".

3. Research
  • Call on all stakeholders to initiate a comprehensive, sustainable global research agenda, involving both the public and private sector.
  • Call for the development and commercialization of new alternative dental materials and the improvement of currently available alternatives, alongside expanded preventive approaches.

"Existing alternative dental materials are not ideal due to limitation in durability, fracture resistance, and wear resistance... recognized the need for strengthening of research into the long-term performance, possible adverse effects, and viability of such materials".

4. Education and training

Call on the relevant bodies to:

  • strengthen under- and post-graduate curricula and continuing professional development for health professionals in the four strategic areas above, and
  • work with government agencies to deliver national campaigns in support of improved patient, occupational and environmental health.

"...different approaches to dental caries management in countries that need to be considered in oral health policy, development and planning of public health programmes. Implications for training of dental personnel and costs to society as well as the individual are significant".