African governments, dentists, and consumers are increasingly turning against the use of dental amalgam, the highly controversial dental fillings material that is 50% mercury.

In 2006, Dr. Myron Wentz authored A Mouth Full of Poison, a book condemning toxic mercury-based dental amalgam and calling for an end to its use.  His subsequent economic successes as founder of USANA Health Sciences have permitted him to transform this idea into action: he has fully funded the African campaign of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry for the last four years.

According to Charles G. Brown, president of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, “Because of Dr. Wentz’s support, the campaign for mercury-free dentistry has active campaigns in 20 African countries, with an excellent and energetic nonprofit environmental group partner in each. Many countries have ended amalgam in selected uses, such as in children, the military, and private hospitals, and should soon be following Tanzania which has issued a complete phase-out timeline. Dental school curriculum updates emphasizing alternatives to amalgam have occurred across the continent. And this year we expanded into Portuguese-speaking countries and into the key nations of Egypt and South Africa.” 

The African continent has united at the international level, proposing an amendment to the Minamata Convention on Mercury that calls for a four-step phase-out in the use of dental amalgam worldwide.  The African Amalgam Amendment will be the subject of hot debate at the upcoming 4^th Conference of the Parties in Indonesia in March 2022. 

Dr. Wentz states, “I am proud to have played a role in transforming an idea into reality to the enormous benefit of the African people and their next generation of children.”