Since the beginning of this year, dentists throughout the EU are no longer allowed to use amalgam fillings in their patients’ teeth. This has been regulated by the EU Commission. This ban therefore also affects Baden-Württemberg. However, all members of statutory health insurance funds are still entitled to dental fillings for which they do not have to pay anything extra. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists have agreed on alternative materials to replace amalgam.
Dental amalgam, which contains mercury, was previously frequently used for dental fillings. In Baden-Württemberg, many dental practices had already reduced the use of amalgam before the ban. According to the health insurance company Barmer, only 8.3 percent of practices in the state still used amalgam for dental fillings in 2024.
In addition, dental practices are obliged to install amalgam separators to prevent mercury-containing materials from being released into the environment. These separators must be maintained regularly and the separated amalgam must be disposed of properly.
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