AGD testifies on amalgam

CHICAGO, Illinois--Vincent C. Mayher, DMD, MAGD, past president of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), testified Dec. 15, 2010, in support of using dental amalgam as a viable option to treat dental decay.

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The hearing was conducted at the Food and Drug Administration Joint Meeting of the Dental Products Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee.

Dr. Mayher first clarified some misconceptions about use of dental amalgam, including that these restorations are given to pregnant women or children, or that its existence means that it is all dentists’ restoration of choices. Dr. Mayher added that he uses tooth-colored composite as his preferred restorative material but will place an amalgam under special circumstances.

“Overblown and exaggerated accounts of dentists forcing amalgam into the mouths of unknowing pregnant women and children are inflammatory, build distrust and have absolutely no basis in fact, at least not in your typical private practice,” testified Dr. Mayher.

The hearing was prompted by public reaction to the 2009 ruling that the mercury found in dental fillings is not harmful. At the time, numerous other witnesses at the hearing agreed with the FDA’s conclusion.

Aside from the scientific argument, Dr. Mayher stressed that the most important element to consider when it comes to restorative materials is the fact that patients have a choice.

“No patient should ever be forced into having any restorative material placed into their mouth without their, or their parent’s, full informed consent,” Dr. Mayher testified. “Any decision to place any restorative material in any patient’s mouth should be made at the local level by an informed and educated patient, after a prudent and open discussion with their treating dentist.”

Some alternative treatments, such as crown and bridge work or gold onlays, are prohibitively more expensive and may not be an option for some patients. An open discussion between the dentist and patient will help to determine which avenue is best, a relationship that Dr. Mayher highly values but fears might be compromised if amalgam is eliminated as an option.

“I urge this panel not to interfere with this relationship,” Dr. Mayher said. “Do not strip our patients of one of their most basic rights: the right to make their own health care decisions.”

Read Dr. Mayher’s testimony at AGD.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx.

For more information, go to www.agd.org.

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