Dental Tribune Asia Pacific No. 9, 2016

05Dental Tribune Asia Paciﬁc Edition | 9/2016 WORLD NEWS By DTI LONDON, UK: Limiting the use of amalgam in dentistry is a task that needs a combined effort by vari- ous actors in and outside of the health care sector, the organisers of a meeting of 50 senior oral leaders in London have agreed. However, by phasing down the material, the profession will have a rare opportunity for more pre- vention-focused oral health care in the future, they said. “I was very impressed by the commitment of the major dental communitystakeholdertoameas- urable, equitable and sustainable phase-down of dental amalgam use, as well as the recognition that ‘dentistry can’t do this alone’. This will need the engagement of other actors such as other health professions, the industry and most importantly civil society,” commented Julian Fisher, resource person for the United Nations Environment Programme Global Mercury Partnership Area on Waste Management. At the meeting, senior oral health leaders from around the globe came together to discuss pathways for reducing the use of amalgam not only in the UK but also on an international level. The conference took place in mid-July at King’s College London Dental Institute in cooperation with Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences and the University of Leeds’s School of Dentistry. In addition to presentations on phase-down case studies, such as the UNEP–WHO East Africa pro- ject, the multi-day event provided an overview of minimally invasive dentistry programmes. A particu- lar focus was on improved and newly developed materials and the impact the transition to these materials could have on the dental profession in the long run. “The complexity of something seemingly as simple as changing a material is remarkable,” said the Dental Institute’s Executive Dean, Prof. Dianne Rekow. “Indeed, this ‘simple’ change has ripple effects that change the philosophy and practice of dentistry, as well as the economies of health care.” “One of the most impressive features of the symposium was the willingness of the participants to explore the implications and interdependencies of the ripples and assertively work toward ﬁnd- ing ways to improve both the envi- ronment and health,” she stated further. Various initiatives have been implemented worldwide since representatives of over 190 coun- tries signed the Minamata Con- vention on Mercury in Japan three years ago, which agreed on a mer- cury ban in a variety of products, as well as a phase-out of amalgam. While its use in developing coun- tries is declining, the mercury- containing restorative remains the material of choice in develop- ing countries around the world. www.dental-tribune.com The Dental Tribune International Magazines Shipping Address Name Address Zip Code, City Country E-mail Date, Signature PayPal Credit Card Credit Card Number Expiration Date Security Code CAD/CAM Clinical Masters* cosmetic dentistry** implants laser ortho** roots Journal of Oral Science & Rehabilitation*** Fax: +49 341 48474 173 E-mail: subscriptions@dental-tribune.com EUR 44 per year (4 issues per year; incl. shipping and VAT for customers in Germany) and EUR 46 per year (4 issues per year; incl. shipping for customers outside Germany). * EUR 12 per year (1 issue per year; incl. shipping and VAT for customers in Germany) and EUR 14 per year (1 issue per year; incl. shipping for customers outside Germany). ** EUR 22 per year (2 issues per year; incl. shipping and VAT for customers in Germany) and EUR 23 per year (2 issues per year; incl. shipping for customers outside Germany). *** EUR 200 per year (4 issues per year; incl. shipping and VAT). Your subscription will be renewed automatically every year until a written cancellation is sent to Dental Tribune International GmbH, Holbeinstr. 29, 04229 Leipzig, Germany, six weeks prior to the renewal date. I would like to subscribe to SUBSCRIBE NOW! AD Amalgam phase-out discussed at London meeting Over 50 dental stakeholders attended the meeting in London. ©KCL,UK Fax: +4934148474173

Dental Tribune Asia Pacific No. 9, 2016

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