- Amalgam safety. The ADA recognizes dental amalgam (silver-colored filling) as a safe and effective restorative material and will oppose efforts to ban or otherwise restrict its use.
- Informed choice. The ADA believes that patients and their dentists should have access to the full range of safe and effective options for treating dental decay.
- Amalgam separators. The ADA encourages the recycling of waste amalgam in the dental office and strongly supports the voluntary use of amalgam separators.
- FDA device classification. The ADA supports the FDA's proposal to classify encapsulated amalgam as a Class II medical device.
- Continued research. The ADA welcomes calls for additional research to ensure the profession and the public have the most current, scientifically valid information on which to base treatment decisions involving restorative materials.
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Letters and Testimony
- September 15, 2009—Letter urging members of Congress to oppose H. Res. 648 on the grounds that it contains false and misleading statements about the toxicity of dental amalgam. | PDF file/60k
- August 12, 2009—Letter commending the FDA for allowing credible, peer-reviewed science to guide its final rule categorizing encapsulated dental amalgam as a Class II medical device. | PDF file/50k
- July 28, 2009—Statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision not to place any restriction on the use of encapsulated dental amalgam.
- June 23, 2009—Letter commending the Environmental Protection Agency for its ongoing efforts to help promote the Association’s Best Management Practices for Amalgam Waste. | PDF file/64k
- December 29, 2008—Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Dental Association, and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies to establish and monitor the effectiveness of a Voluntary Dental Amalgam Discharge Reduction Program. | PDF file/483k
- July 28, 2008—Comments on the FDA’s proposal to reclassify encapsulated dental amalgam and dental mercury as Class II devices and add special packaging and labeling controls for amalgam alloy. | PDF file/232k
- July 8, 2008—Testimony of William J. Walsh to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Domestic Policy Subcommittee, on voluntary efforts to limit the environmental impact of dental amalgam. | PDF file/473k
- December 21, 2007—Comments on the EPA's proposals to study an amalgam pretreatment requirement for dental offices. | PDF file/1MB
- November 14, 2007—Testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Domestic Policy Subcommittee, on the regulation of dental amalgam and its impact on the environment. | PDF file/23k
- October 25, 2007—Comments by the ADA, et al., on the draft Mercury in Products Phase-Down Strategy. | PDF file/37k
- October 2, 2007—Statement supporting the creation of a brochure to help patients understand the advantages and disadvantages of various materials used to create dental fillings.
- September 7, 2006—Statement welcoming calls for additional studies on the safety of dental amalgam fillings.
- September 7, 2006—Testimony of Dr. Milton V. Marshall to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) Dental Products Advisory Panel, supporting the safety of dental amalgam.
| PDF file/118k
- September 6, 2006—Testimony of Dr. Amid Ismail to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) Dental Products Advisory Panel, supporting the safety of dental amalgam.
| PDF file/37k
- September 6, 2006—Testimony of Dr. Ronald R. Zentz to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA’s) Dental Products Advisory Panel, supporting the safety of dental amalgam. | PDF file/44k
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ADA Resources
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Additional Resources
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Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
Federal Affairs
1111 14th Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202.898.2400
Fax: 202.898.2437
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
State Government Affairs
ADA Chicago Headquarters
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312.440.2525
Fax: 312.440.3539
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
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