Shoppers for Dental Selection has engineered a tectonic shift in dentistry — fashionable dentists now not place mercury-based fillings (dental amalgam) — and conscious shoppers shun them. In contrast to a decade in the past, neither the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the World Well being Group (WHO) defends amalgam — and the key dental merchandise corporations stopped making amalgam.
Shoppers for Dental Selection and I are in our fifteenth 12 months of partnership. I’ve watched my good friend Charlie Brown construct a powerhouse nationwide and worldwide drive, altering dentistry 180 levels from mercury-based to mercury-free.
However the authorities bureaucracies (federal and state) and the insurance coverage behemoths haven’t modified. Amalgam continues for the powerless — our servicewomen and servicemen, the institutionalized, low-income households, and Native Individuals.
To finish this morally unacceptable system of alternative for the wealthy and mercury for the poor, as soon as once more, I put my cash the place my mouth is. Till midnight on August 23, 2025, I’ll match your reward to Shoppers for Dental Selection — greenback for greenback. I’m on this trigger full bore — and ask you to affix me.
These Grey-Coloured Dental Fillings Are 50% Mercury
In an audacious transfer of brazen deception, the American Dental Affiliation (ADA) — an amalgam patentholder — promoted dental amalgam as “silver fillings” and doubled down on the cover-up by adopting a rule of conduct forbidding dentists from discussing the (apparent) toxicity of mercury.
• The reality behind silver fillings — Nicely, I’m right here to let you know that “silver” filling is definitely a mercury filling. Mercury isn’t solely poisonous, however essentially the most vaporous of heavy metals. So, meaning mercury can attain the mind, the kidneys, the placenta, and the breast milk.
• The established order is enforced — The ADA’s callous and irresponsible promotion of mercury-based dentistry — when the options are technically higher now and way more tooth pleasant — continues to have extreme well being, office, and environmental penalties.
• Vote along with your pockets — Trendy dentists by no means use dental amalgam. In case your dentist nonetheless locations amalgam in any dental affected person, it’s time to take your enterprise elsewhere.
Shoppers for Dental Selection Introduced a Revolution to American Dentistry
When Charlie and I began working collectively, the federal authorities and the states sat firmly on dentistry issues, within the pocket of the ADA — equally, worldwide businesses are within the pocket of the pro-mercury Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) World Dental Federation.
• Main victories have been gained — With tenacity, Charlie constructed a worldwide nonprofit powerhouse — and with strategic brilliance, discovered the trail to dismantle the pro-amalgam machine. Amalgam is now banned throughout Europe, and in a number of African and Asian nations.
Each the FDA and the WHO switched from amalgam advocates to amalgam opponents. Readers, convincing both the FDA or WHO to change from help to opposition of a product is extraordinarily uncommon; altering each of those impenetrable colossi is, properly, unprecedented in my expertise.
• Numerous lives had been saved from mercury — Hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of American shoppers — and billions worldwide — had been spared from the well being danger of mercury-based fillings. Three a long time in the past, the late mercury-free dental pioneer Dr. Hal Huggins requested Charlie to assist a billion folks — it now seems he has achieved so.
• There are nonetheless battles to be fought — However as I clarify under, we shouldn’t have mercury-free dentistry for all. We have to hold the momentum going to banish use of this primitive, pre-Civil Warfare pollutant from our planet.
So, for the fifteenth consecutive 12 months, I’m stepping as much as match each greenback donated to Shoppers for Dental Selection from now till midnight your time on August 23, 2025 (as much as $150,000 whole). Let’s give Shoppers for Dental Selection the assets it wants and deserves. Chances are you’ll click on this button under to donate on-line:
Or you might mail a test to:
Shoppers for Dental Selection
727 fifteenth St. NW, Suite 701
Washington, DC 20005
Shoppers for Dental Selection Stands Up for Powerless Dental Shoppers
Testifying earlier than Congress a number of years in the past, the witness for esteemed Nationwide Affiliation for the Development of Coloured Individuals (NAACP) stated American dentistry is “alternative for the wealthy and mercury for the poor.” Shoppers for Dental Selection was created with the imaginative and prescient that if shoppers have a alternative — an knowledgeable alternative — they’ll reject the mercury filling in favor of the unhazardous one.
• The selection nonetheless isn’t given to all — Many shoppers are powerless to decide on. Troopers and sailors, institutionalized people, folks caught in authorities applications just like the Indian Well being Service (IHS), and folks saddled with cut-rate insurance policy that favor mercury.
• Victims of fraudulent campaigning — The talked about shoppers and their kids are generally victims of pro-mercury dentists who falsely inform sufferers amalgam is “silver.” These are victims of callous authorities chief dental officers who couldn’t care much less that the FDA warns towards amalgam use in kids and different high-risk populations, victims of dental insurance coverage corporations that squeeze each greenback from shoppers with out regard to security.
Right here’s some highlights from the agenda of Shoppers for Dental Selection to finish amalgam for all:
Shoppers for Dental Selection’s Initiative to Make Federal Authorities Applications Mercury-Free
Regardless of the FDA security communication warning towards amalgam use in kids and different high-risk populations, the only largest purchaser of amalgam within the U.S. is our personal authorities. Its dental applications proceed to implant dental mercury into American Indians, into our troopers and sailors, into institutionalized individuals, and into households on Medicaid.
• Authorities lastly gathered and listened — After years of pounding on doorways, Shoppers for Dental Selection lastly received the federal government to the desk for a complete day final 12 months in Washington, DC to speak about ending amalgam.
Assembled had been authorities officers representing the FDA, the Environmental Safety Company (EPA), the State Division, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH), and the IHS who met with a broad vary of environmental, medical, dental, science, and shopper leaders.
• New applications have been created — Now, we see outcomes. Shoppers for Dental Selection satisfied the IHS to publish its “Plan to Section Down the Use of Dental Amalgam amongst American Indians/Alaska Natives 2010 – 2030 (or till dental amalgam is phased out within the U.S.).”
It consists of such efficient measures as “Present steerage to IHS, tribal, and concrete dental applications to stop the usage of dental amalgam on deciduous (main) tooth,” “Conduct a nationwide webinar for IHS dental suppliers concerning the 2020 FDA Security Communication and this phase-down plan,” and “Develop insurance policies that scale back the quantity of dental amalgam bought by IHS service models.”
• The ultimate push is on the horizon — Now, Shoppers for Dental Selection calls on Secretary of Well being and Human Providers (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to go additional. Certainly, Charlie wrote a visitor column within the Tampa Bay Instances urging Secretary Kennedy to finish amalgam use in federal applications with the “stroke of a pen” — that’s, ban purchases of mercury-based dental fillings by federal well being businesses.
Then, 150 dental professionals signed onto a letter calling on Secretary Kennedy to finish dental amalgam in authorities applications.
Your contributions make a distinction as Shoppers for Dental Selection tackles the obstacles to mercury-free dentistry for folks with no alternative from each angle.
Shoppers for Dental Selection’s Initiative to Make State Authorities Applications Mercury-Free
To impact change in our federal constitutional system, it takes initiatives each in Washington and in state capitals. So, Shoppers for Dental Selection has launched three state tasks to function fashions for the remainder of the nation:
• Florida — Assembling 4 nationwide organizations, Shoppers for Dental Selection filed a petition to Tallahassee to finish amalgam use in Florida Medicaid. They’d a Zoom assembly with my good friend, famend Florida Surgeon Basic Joseph Ladapo. Greater than a dozen Florida dentists signed a letter asking for motion.
• Rhode Island — Shoppers for Dental Selection is constructing a grassroots motion within the Ocean State, discovering actual curiosity amongst environmental teams, racial justice advocates, and dental professionals.
• California — Shoppers for Dental Selection is working with the Alameda County (Oakland) Shopper Affairs Fee to empower shopper alternative.
Cleansing Up the Dental Trade
It’s not sufficient to work with authorities authorities in phasing out dental amalgam. It’s vital to focus on and rework the amalgam market, too. In that regard, Shoppers for Dental Selection has scored main victories:
• Reducing off amalgam provide — Shoppers for Dental Selection already pushed main U.S. dental merchandise makers Dentsply and Envista (Kerr) out of the amalgam enterprise. In the present day, the key American corporations make solely mercury-free fillings.
• Reducing off amalgam demand — As Shoppers for Dental Selection wins bans and restrictions on amalgam, the demand for this mercury product continues to drop. International locations banning amalgam sweep throughout Asia, notably the Philippines and Indonesia. In Africa, Tanzania and Gabon have additionally banned amalgam, in addition to within the Caribbean (St. Kitts and Nevis).
• Reducing off the amalgam commerce — The current European Union (EU) legislation not solely bans amalgam use, but additionally bans amalgam imports and exports, reducing off dental mercury peddlers — each within the EU and overseas — from many markets.
Successful Amalgam Bans
When Charlie went to Brussels in 2011 to launch the marketing campaign that led to victory, issues had been dangerous — solely two nations within the EU had been focused on mercury-free dentistry.
• Europe was the biggest consumer of amalgam on the planet — Governmental officers learn from speaking factors provided by the pro-mercury Council of European Dentists (CED). Charlie assembled a group from the 27 member nations. His group returned repeatedly to the federal capital, Brussels, went to the nationwide capitals, and arranged a response to a European Fee ballot demonstrating that 88% of Europeans need mercury-free dentistry.
• Onerous work and perseverance repay — To run the marketing campaign in Europe, Charlie appointed Florian Schulze, chief of an thrilling new non-governmental group (NGO) in Berlin, the European Community for Environmental Drugs. Florian and his NGO engineered the breakthrough our trigger wanted — a legislation in 2017 banning amalgam for kids, pregnant girls, and nursing moms.
The purpose, then, upshifted to mercury-free dentistry for all — a path requiring a Biblical seven extra years of grueling challenges. The lead to 2024 — a vote to ban amalgam was 27 nations for, zero nations towards. What began with two nations in help in 2011 morphed into unanimity in 2024. The European Parliament supported the ban 98% to 2% — think about such a near-unanimity from a legislative physique!
• Governments world wide are following — Along with the rising variety of nations banning all amalgam, many nations — from Vietnam to Mauritius to Tunisia — have banned amalgam use for high-risk populations like kids.
Now, one other main nation, China, has joined them. China issued a brand new regulation in 2024 that in translation says, “Dental amalgam is prohibited to be used in dental remedy of deciduous tooth, sufferers beneath 15 years of age, and pregnant and lactating girls, except the dentist deems it needed primarily based on the wants of the affected person.”
Showdown in November
The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, the worldwide coalition Charlie chairs, has satisfied the governments to shift the main focus of the Minamata Conference on Mercury from “section down amalgam” to “section out amalgam.”
• Getting ready for the faceoff — In 2022, the Events adopted the Youngsters’s Modification addressing an finish date for amalgam for kids and for pregnant and breastfeeding girls. In 2023 the Events adopted a section out of dental amalgam as a worldwide purpose.
In November 2025, the Minamata Conference on Mercury reconvenes — on the high of the agenda is whether or not to shift treaty language from section out amalgam as a purpose to section out of amalgam as a authorized mandate. Each the Africa continent, by unanimity, and the European Union have already known as for help of this modification — and help is rising throughout the globe.
• The combat to ban amalgam involves a head — Charlie will lead a civil society delegation from 13 nations on the upcoming convention of the events, coming 3 to 7 November in Geneva. The voice of mercury-free dentistry shall be well-represented.
Your Assist Makes a Massive Distinction
Shoppers for Dental Selection is a tremendous nonprofit 501(c)(3) group devoted to advocating mercury-free dentistry. Its gifted group of shopper advocates, environmentalists, and well being professionals work tirelessly — and successfully — to proceed the combat towards dental mercury world wide.
Contemplate donating to this worthwhile trigger to assist get rid of mercury fillings, and I’ll match your reward. Click on the button under to donate on-line:
Or you might mail a test to:
Shoppers for Dental Selection
727 fifteenth St. NW, Suite 701
Washington, DC 20005
Along with your assist, Shoppers for Dental Selection’s marketing campaign will guarantee mercury-free dentistry for all.
Assets to Assist You Select a Mercury-Free Dentist
Insist on mercury-free dental fillings. These fantastic organizations might help you discover a mercury-free dentist:
- Shoppers for Dental Selection
- Dental Amalgam Mercury Options (DAMS)
- Holistic Dental Affiliation
- Worldwide Academy of Organic Dentistry and Drugs (IABDM)
- Worldwide Affiliation of Mercury Protected Dentists
- Worldwide Academy of Oral Drugs and Toxicology (IAOMT)
- Discuss Worldwide
Incessantly Requested Questions (FAQs) About Dental Amalgams
Q: What’s dental amalgam, and why is it controversial?
A: Dental amalgam, typically misleadingly known as “silver fillings,” is definitely 50% mercury — a poisonous heavy steel that may vaporize and journey to the mind, kidneys, placenta, and breast milk. Regardless of safer options, the American Dental Affiliation (ADA) traditionally promoted amalgam whereas discouraging dentists from discussing its well being dangers.
Q: What progress has been made towards eliminating dental amalgam worldwide?
A: Shoppers for Dental Selection, led by Charlie Brown, has secured main victories, together with Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Well being Group (WHO) opposition to amalgam, full bans throughout the European Union (EU), and restrictions in quite a few nations throughout Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. In america, main producers like Dentsply and Envista have stopped producing amalgam completely.
Q: Who remains to be most affected by mercury-based dentistry?
A: Weak populations — together with troopers, Native Individuals, institutionalized people, and low-income households with restrictive insurance coverage — typically nonetheless obtain amalgam fillings attributable to authorities insurance policies, restricted entry to options, and deceptive info from pro-mercury dentists.
Q: What’s being achieved to finish amalgam use in authorities applications?
A: Shoppers for Dental Selection has efficiently pushed the Indian Well being Service (IHS) to undertake a phase-down plan and continues to induce Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the US Secretary of Well being and Human Providers (HHS), to ban amalgam purchases in all federal dental applications. They’re additionally main initiatives in states like Florida, Rhode Island, and California to get rid of amalgam from Medicaid and different public providers.
Q: What’s subsequent within the combat towards dental mercury?
A: The worldwide marketing campaign now goals to make a full phase-out of amalgam a authorized requirement beneath the Minamata Conference on Mercury. This shall be debated on the November 2025 convention in Geneva, the place Shoppers for Dental Selection will lead a world delegation to advocate for a worldwide ban.
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