Mercury poisoning within the dental clinic Myth or reality in Côte d’Ivoire

Background : The amalgam, a material that has been used for more than 150 years for posterior teeth restoration, has been controversial because of the poisoning risk related to its mercury-content. Its manipulation exposes the practitioner and his staff members to chronic mercury poisoning, which causes some pathologies. It is, therefore, less often used or even abandoned in developed countries. However, in Cote d’Ivoire, it remains the material of choice for posterior restorations for its mechanical properties and relatively low cost. Aim: This study aimed to analyze mercury vapor levels measurement within dental clinics. Materials and Methods: The study involved forty-six dental clinics in the district of Abidjan using exclusively or not the amalgam. A spectrophotometer, Lumex, was used to measure mercury vapor at two levels (garbage cans and ambient air) at the opening of dental offices’ doors. Ten measurements equally spaced by ten seconds were done for each level. The data were analyzed using the SPSS and the Student test as a statistical test. Results: Very high levels of mercury vapors have been recorded in 3/4 of dental clinics using exclusively or not the amalgam compared to the WHO threshold value (999ng/m3), whatever the measured level. Conclusion: Mercury poisoning remains a reality within dental clinics in Abidjan. Keywords: Dental clinic, Mercury vapor measurement.