Indian Health Service Phases Out Mercury Dental Fillings

The United States===Indian Health Service (IHS) announced its plan to phase out the use of dental fillings containing elemental mercury, known as dental amalgams, by 2027. This decision, overseen by the United States===United States Department of Health and Human Services and supported by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aligns with growing environmental and health concerns about mercury exposure. The United States===Food and Drug Administration had previously reclassified these devices as moderate risk in 2009, leading to a decline in their use. While the American Dental Association maintains the safety of mercury-containing fillings, the IHS's move puts the United States ahead of the 2034 global phase-out schedule agreed upon by signatories of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This change is expected to benefit the 2.8 million patients served by the IHS, particularly Native Americans and Alaska Natives, who may not have access to private dentistry.