3/17/03 - BULLETIN FROM NORWAY -
NEW GUIDELINES FOR DENTAL MATERIALS
from: Maryann Rygg
Monday March 17, 2003,the long-awaited new guidelines for the use of dental materials in Norway were finally officially announced and made public.
Unfortunately, all of the information made public today by the Directorate for Health and Social Welfare is in Norwegian. The official press release and a pdf-file with the entire 39-page document (in Norwegian) is posted at the website of the Directorate: www.shdir.no/index.db2?id=3948
The unofficial translation of recommendations and conclusions will be available within a week or two.
Short Version of the recommendations (similar to those of July 2002):
- Preventive care shall be given priority.
- When fillings are necessary, techniques that preserve tooth substance are to be chosen.
- Amalgam shall not ordinarily be the first choice when filling therapy is indicated.
- The use of amalgam shall be limited as much as possible in order to protect the environment and due to possible injury to health.
- Dental filling therapy for pregnant woman should be avoided.
- For new restorations, contact between amalgam and other metals should be avoided.
- Allergy to any ingredient in a dental material is a contraindication for use of that material.
- Efforts should be made to reduce exposure of patients and dental personnel to chemical substances from dental therapy when applying and removing fillings.
- A vacuum suction and water cooling shall be used when removing old fillings.
- Avoid contact with materials before they are cured.
CONCLUSIONS TO BE POSTED