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In 2024, the European Parliament voted to ban dental amalgam from 1 January 2025. Under post Brexit arrangements, Northern Ireland will be expected to phase out dental amalgam on the same basis as EU member states. Divergence means the rest of the UK faces disruption and higher costs given the impact on supply chains, but not a formal ban. This is according to the BDA, which has stressed that “there are currently no alternative restorative materials that compete with amalgam on speed of placement or longevity.” The BDA’s supports a phase down approach to the use of dental amalgam rather than a rapid phase-out which describes as “neither feasible nor justifiable.”
We have seen a major decline in amalgam use in recent years, with customers switching to composite and GI materials instead. Patients tend to prefer the ‘invisible’ look of modern composite fillings compared to amalgam. Also, some patients may feel negatively about amalgam due to media coverage
To find out more, visit our Guide to Dental Composites Buying Guide or Guide to Glass Ionomer.