The Need to End Mercury Fillings for Children Now

Dental amalgam is approximately 50% mercury by weight, and it releases a vapor that can be inhaled and absorbed, with children's developing neurological systems potentially more sensitive to its effects Since 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised dentists to avoid mercury fillings in children under 6 and other higher-risk patients, but the recommendation carries no obligation and no penalty for ignoring it Access to mercury-free care remains unequal, with low-income children, children of color, indigenous communities, Medicaid patients, service members, and institutionalized people often having fewer choices about the materials used Forty-six countries have banned amalgam by law, the European Union (EU) barred it for children under 15 in 2018, and the Minamata Convention set December 31, 2034 as the global end date Consumers for Dental Choice is leading the effort to end amalgam use in children, and I will match every donation dollar for dollar through August 22, 2026, up to $150,000