The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region has stepped up efforts to help countries phase out mercury-containing dental fillings, urging governments to adopt safer and more sustainable alternatives as part of a broader shift towards prevention-focused oral healthcare.

Health and environment policymakers and experts from across the region gathered in Bangkok for a two-day workshop aimed at strengthening collaboration on eliminating dental amalgam, a mercury-containing material traditionally used for dental fillings.

“Phasing out dental amalgam offers countries a unique opportunity to protect people’s health and the environment while accelerating the transition to prevention-oriented, minimally invasive and more sustainable oral health care. By working together across the health and environment sectors, we can expand access to safe, effective and people-centred oral health services while building more resilient and environmentally sustainable health systems,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.

The meeting follows a decision adopted at the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2025, which commits countries to phase out dental amalgam by 2034. The agreement marks a shift from gradually reducing the use of dental amalgam to eliminating it altogether.

WHO classifies mercury as one of the ten chemicals of major public health concern. Dental amalgam can release mercury into the environment during its manufacture, use, removal and disposal, contaminating air, water and soil. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), between 3,000 and 5,000 metric tonnes of mercury are currently stored in dental fillings worldwide.

WHO said the move away from dental amalgam is part of its wider effort to promote prevention-oriented, minimally invasive and people-centred oral healthcare, while expanding access to safe mercury-free alternatives.

The agency’s Global Oral Health Action Plan aims for 90% of countries to have implemented measures to phase down or phase out dental amalgam by 2030. However, as of the 2024 baseline, only 19% of countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region had met that target, compared with 31% globally.

“Partnerships between the health and environment sectors are critical to achieving the Minamata Convention’s objectives, not only by accelerating the transition to mercury-free oral health care but also by strengthening the environmentally sound management of mercury-containing waste. By working together, countries can reduce mercury releases, protect ecosystems and communities, and advance more sustainable and resilient health systems,” said Sudhir Sharma, Regional Coordinator Chemicals and Pollution, UNEP.

The workshop is the second of three regional meetings under the GEF-7 Phasing Down Dental Amalgam Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UNEP and executed by WHO. The initiative supports countries in implementing the Minamata Convention’s dental amalgam provisions and improving the management of mercury-containing waste.

Thailand, one of the project’s three pilot countries, has already reported a decline in dental amalgam use by promoting preventive oral healthcare, expanding the use of mercury-free restorative materials and strengthening waste management systems.

“The project has helped reduce the use of dental amalgam while strengthening prevention-oriented oral health policies, promoting mercury-free alternatives and improving the management of dental amalgam waste in Thailand. These experiences demonstrate that the transition is achievable and offer valuable lessons for other countries in the Region,” said Dr Damrong Thamronglaohaphan, Director, Bureau of Dental Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.

The workshop brings together policymakers, technical experts, international organisations, academia, civil society and private sector representatives to share experiences and identify practical steps for accelerating the transition to mercury-free oral healthcare across the region.

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