Restorative
Lydia J. DeJonge, DDS (she/her/hers)
Pediatric Dental Resident (PGY3)
UIC College of Dentistry Department of Pediatric Dentistry
UIC College of Dentistry
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Judith Feinstein, MSPH
ASTDD
Harry Goodman, DMD, MPH
ASTDD
Linda M. Kaste, PhD, DDS, MS
Research Mentor
UIC College of Dentistry
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Linda M. Kaste, PhD, DDS, MS
Research Mentor
UIC College of Dentistry
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Brittaney J. Hill, DDS, MS, MPH
Program Director
University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Methods: Performance of the Rapid Review involving the systematic search for literature with contrasts on environmental health impact of dental materials from PubMed/MEDLINE databases. Additional guidance for the searching and synthesis arises from pertinent White Papers presenting government policies and legislation. Results: While many reports have evaluated dental amalgam’s environmental contamination in conjunction with the Minamata Convention on the phasedown of mercury usage in dentistry, more limited attention has focused on the effects of dental ‘plastics’ (such as resin composites and glass ionomers). Bioactive materials appear too new to be included in environmental health assessments. Conclusions: Dental amalgam and plastic materials are important restorative materials used in pediatric dentistry. The current limited evidence-based assessments show the importance of dental providers’ and policy makers’ promotion of prevention of dental disease, weighing tradeoffs of materials characteristics, new material development, and adherence to recommended dental office industrial hygiene. This review provides a basis for a policy statement for state oral health programs to assist clinicians to address dental materials choices that promote optimal oral and general health, while also aiming to minimize adverse environmental health impact. |