The Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, an agency of the Norwegian government, has recently released this English translation of their guidelines for dental matierials. A National Clinical Guideline for the Use of Dental Filling Materials in Norway became the standard practice July 1st 2003. Information for dental health care personnel.

A summary of the recommendations in the guideline: Preventive treatment should be given priority. Dental tissue-conserving techniques shall always be chosen when dental filling therapy is necessary. Amalgam should not normally be the first choice for any indication of dental filling therapy. Use of amalgam should be limited as much as possible in consideration to the environment and possible adverse health effects. Dental filling therapy should be avoided during pregnancy. Contact between amalgam and other metals must be avoided when placing new dental fillings. Allergy to a component of a dental filling material is a contra-indication for use of the material. Every effort should be made to reduce the exposure of patients and dental health care personnel to chemical substances during dental treatment, both when placing and removing dental fillings. Water cooling and suction shall be used when removing old dental fillings. Contact with materials before they are hardened should be avoided.