The Republic of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia with a population of 69,951,000 and an area of 513,140 km2. Thailand became a Party to the Minamata Convention on 22 June 2017.
The estimated prevalence of untreated caries in Thailand is 44.7% for deciduous teeth (primary teeth or milk teeth) and 27% for permanent teeth. A 2018-19 survey conducted in the Ministry of Public Health facilities revealed that most of the dental fillings were restored with alternative materials to dental amalgam. Furthermore, the material of choice for primary teeth in children aged under 15 years old was resin-based composite. There has been a declining trend in the use of dental amalgam for fillings; however, additional efforts could even further accelerate phasing down its use and implementing practices to adequately manage its waste.
Through this project, Thailand will:
- Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the national context with regards to the use of dental amalgam and the management of its associated waste to identify country-specific strategic interventions for implementing the Minamata Convention on Mercury, including decisions made by the Conference of the Parties;
- Develop measures to reduce the use of amalgam fillings in all age groups, especially in pregnant women and children under 15-year-old;
- Build capacity and foster a supportive environment for reducing the use of dental amalgam, with a focus to promote the use of mercury-free materials for the prevention and treatment of dental caries;
- Improve dental amalgam waste management practices;
- Cancel the production, import and export of amalgam tablet and limiting the use of amalgam material in capsule form only;
- Study the feasibility of amalgam separator installation in dental clinics;
- Share information and knowledge with other countries.
