Recent press coverage of legislation proposed to ban the use of dental amalgam raises several important issues that need to be fully explored before such a proposal should proceed.

I respect and share society's desire to reduce the amount of mercury in the environment. Vermont dentists have been in the forefront of eliminating mercury from the environment for many years. We follow "best management practices" to recycle any amalgam waste. Last year we supported legislation that required dental offices to install amalgam separators to catch tiny amounts of scrap amalgam from our water lines before the water returns to the municipal water system.

Dentists are the first ones to inform patients of the many different options available for treating tooth decay and other maladies when our efforts at preventive oral health measures are not successful.

But banning dental amalgam will hurt patients in Vermont by depriving them of an important health care option. I say this with no economic conflict of interest. Amalgam is less expensive for patients. Forcing me to use more expensive restoratives would only reduce financial options for my patients.

Dental amalgam is not mercury. It is a combination of materials that together form one of the toughest, longest lasting materials we have to restore teeth.

Amalgam contains mercury. But when combined with other metals it forms a stable alloy that has entirely different properties than mercury by itself. For some, it can be the best solution. For generations, dentists have used this option to treat dental decay in millions of Americans.

Why use amalgam?