With amalgam set to be banned globally from 2034, Kev Patel considers the potential impact on UK dentistry – is outlawing amalgam financially viable for practices and what are the benefits for patients?
While Europe moved to ban the use of dental amalgam from January 2025, millions of UK patients continue to receive the metal-based fillings as part of routine NHS dental care – raising renewed concerns about patient health, outdated policy and chronic underfunding in dentistry.
With a global phase-out date set for 2034, how will banning amalgam affect UK practices and patients, for better or worse?
Dental amalgam, commonly known as ‘silver filling’, contains approximately 50% mercury, a neurotoxic substance that has long been the subject of global health debate.
The European Union’s decision to phase out amalgam follows recommendations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, citing environmental impact and potential health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups. Yet in the UK, amalgam remains widely used.
Why is amalgam still used in the NHS?
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