An Uncertain Risk and an Uncertain Future: Assessing the Legal Implications of Mercury Amalgram Fillings.
Keywords
American Dental AssociationAmerican Society of Dental Surgeons
FDA regulations
Food and Drug Law
Health Law and Policy
Law and Society
Legal Analysis and Writing
Legal Education
Legal History
Medical Jurisprudence
Organizations
Partnerships
Professional Ethics
Social Welfare
amalgam risks
dental filling
dental industry
dental treatment options
informed consent
informed decision-making
malpractice litigation
mercury amalgam fillings
patient rights
patient safety
professional discipline
safety risks of dental mercury
Full record
Show full item recordOnline Access
http://lsr.nellco.org/bc/bclsfp/papers/99Abstract
Trying to buy a mercury thermometer at the local pharmacy these days will result in a deluge of information regarding the risks of mercury and the proper disposal protocol for mercury thermometers as hazardous waste. Yet, inquiring about the risks of placing mercury in one's mouth, in the form of a dental filling, is likely to meet with resounding assurances of safety from the dental profession. While such comforting disclaimers are meant to ease patient concerns, many continue to worry about the safety of dental mercury. This article will begin by describing the many safety concerns that surround the use of dental amalgam. It will briefly overview how other nations and even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have taken preliminary steps to safeguard patient safety. It will then examine the dental industry's use of professional discipline and malpractice litigation to prevent and even punish full disclosure of amalgam risks. The article will conclude by showing how legislation at the state level appears to offer the best strategy for insuring that dental patients are adequately informed of the risks associated with mercury fillings.Date
2004-01-01Type
textIdentifier
oai:nellco.org:bc/bclsfp-1100http://lsr.nellco.org/bc/bclsfp/papers/99
oai:nellco.org:bc/bclsfp-1100
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Social Media in the Dental School Environment, Part B: Curricular ConsiderationsSpallek, Heiko; Turner, Sharon P.; Donate-Bartfield, Evelyn; Chambers, David; McAndrew, Maureen; Zarkowski, Pamela; Karimbux, Nadeem (UKnowledge, 2015-10-01)The goal of this article is to describe the broad curricular constructs surrounding teaching and learning about social media in dental education. This analysis takes into account timing, development, and assessment of the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors needed to effectively use social media tools as a contemporary dentist. Three developmental stages in a student's path to becoming a competent professional are described: from undergraduate to dental student, from the classroom and preclinical simulation laboratory to the clinical setting, and from dental student to licensed practitioner. Considerations for developing the dental curriculum and suggestions for effective instruction at each stage are offered. In all three stages in the future dentist's evolution, faculty members need to educate students about appropriate professional uses of social media. Faculty members should provide instruction on the beneficial aspects of this communication medium and help students recognize the potential pitfalls associated with its use. The authors provide guidelines for customizing instruction to complement each stage of development, recognizing that careful timing is not only important for optimal learning but can prevent inappropriate use of social media as students are introduced to novel situations.
-
University teaching of implant dentistry: guidelines for education of dental undergraduate students and general dental practitioners. An Australian consensus documentMattheos, N.; Ivanovski, S.; Heitz-Mayfield, L.; Klineberg, I.; Sambrook, P.; Scholz, A. (Australian Dental Assn Inc, 2010)N Mattheos, S Ivanovski, L Heitz-Mayfield, I Klineberg, P Sambrook and S Scholz
-
University teaching of implant dentistry: guidelines for education of dental undergraduate students and general dental practitioners. An Australian consensus document.Klineberg, I; HeitzMayfield, L; Ivanovski, S; Mattheos, N; Scholz, S; Sambrook, P (2012-09-28)link_to_subscribed_fulltext