Comment from Sahadi Jeffrey

Dear Congressman [Last Name], I am writing as a concerned constituent to respectfully urge you to support federal legislation that would phase out and ultimately ban the use of mercury-containing dental amalgam in dentistry. Dental amalgam fillings contain mercury, a toxic heavy metal. While these fillings have been used for many years, we now have safer, mercury-free restorative materials available, including composite resins and glass ionomer cements. Continuing to place mercury-based fillings in patients’ mouths raises serious public health and environmental concerns, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, young children, people with kidney impairment, people with neurological conditions, and individuals sensitive to mercury. I am not asking for unnecessary removal of existing fillings that are stable and in good condition. Instead, I am asking Congress to prevent the continued placement of new mercury-containing fillings and to help dental offices transition fully to safer alternatives. Mercury from dental amalgam is not only a patient health concern. Dental waste can also contribute to mercury pollution, which is why dental offices already must follow special handling and wastewater requirements. If amalgam requires special controls because of its mercury content, then it is reasonable to ask why we are still allowing it to be placed in people’s mouths when effective alternatives exist. I respectfully ask you to support legislation that would: Ban or phase out the placement of new mercury-containing dental amalgam fillings. Require clear patient disclosure when mercury-containing materials are being considered. Protect vulnerable populations immediately from receiving dental amalgam. Support dental providers, especially in underserved communities, in transitioning to safe and affordable mercury-free alternatives. Strengthen environmental safeguards for the handling and disposal of existing amalgam waste. Other countries and international health efforts are already moving away from mercury in dentistry. The United States should lead on this issue and protect both public health and the environment. Thank you for your time and service. I respectfully ask for your position on this issue and whether you would be willing to support or introduce legislation to phase out mercury-containing dental amalgam in the United States.