Department of Operative Dentistry, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Periodontology Department, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
East Mediterr Health J. 2022 Jan 31;28(1):69-73. doi: 10.26719/emhj.21.068.
Amalgam has been the gold standard for restorations in posterior teeth. Mercury, a major component of dental amalgam, is considered an environmental pollutant. The Minamata Convention on mercury recomends a reduction in the use of mercury-containing products. Since Pakistan is a signatory to the Convention, the same amalgam phase-out limitations are implemented in Pakistan.
To identify and assess the use of amalgam and its waste management by dentists in Pakistan post-Minamata Convention guidelines.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore among 520 general dental practitioners in 2019.
The sample size for the study was calculated as 500; the questionnaire was distributed among 550 dentists. Dental amalgam was used by only 41.6% of the dentists in their practice; 55.0% perceived it to be a health risk. Most of the dentists (76.3%) were unaware of the proper disposal protocols for dental amalgam and 76.5% were unaware of any guidelines regarding amalgam use and disposal.
Although there is a gap in knowledge among the dentists regarding amalgam disposal, dentists in Pakistan are reducing their use of dental amalgam in accordance with the guidelines of the Minamata Convention.
汞合金一直是后牙修复的金标准。汞是牙科汞合金的主要成分，被认为是一种环境污染物。《关于汞的水俣公约》建议减少含汞产品的使用。由于巴基斯坦是该公约的签署国，因此巴基斯坦也实施了相同的汞合金淘汰限制。
根据《水俣公约》，确定并评估巴基斯坦牙医在汞合金及其废物管理方面的使用情况。
2019 年，在拉合尔对 520 名普通牙科医生进行了横断面研究。
研究的样本量计算为 500；问卷调查分发给 550 名牙医。只有 41.6%的牙医在实践中使用汞合金；55.0%的人认为它存在健康风险。大多数牙医（76.3%）不知道牙科汞合金的正确处理协议，76.5%的牙医不知道任何关于汞合金使用和处理的准则。
尽管牙医在汞合金处理方面存在知识差距，但巴基斯坦的牙医正在按照《水俣公约》的准则减少对牙科汞合金的使用。
