On 13 January, 2016, a consultative meeting on “Mercury Free Dentistry in India” was organized by the National Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry (initiated by OSVSWA) at Hotel City Surya, Gaya, Bihar. The meeting was presided over by its National Convener Dr G S Patnaik. After making a reasonable achievement in the state of lord Jagannath (Odisha State), the National Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry in India set aside the journey of creating awareness about the mercury poisoning in dentistry and chose the ‘land of Buddha’, Gaya. The broad agenda of the meeting was interactive consultation with the academicians, faculties of the local dental colleges and dental practitioners from around the Gaya region of Bihar State. 15 prominent dental surgeons from the south, east region of Bihar attended the meeting.
The ultimate goal was to create awareness on using mercury poisoned dental amalgam and consequently initiating a process of changes in dental curriculum so that the desired action plan of phasing out of mercury from the shelves of dental practitioners could be achieved throughout the country. Dr G S Patnaik, the National Convener lauded the efforts taken by the dental surgeons from Odisha in making Odisha the 1st Model State for Mercury Free Dentistry in this country. He sincerely hoped with the active participation of IDA, Bihar and the dental practitioners in the State, Bihar would also become Mercury Free. Mr. Dillip Pattanaik, Executive Director of OSWSVA and National Coordinator of the National Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry briefed about the mission and vision of the National Alliance with a presentation. He also shared the success story of Bangladesh and Nepal in the field of mercury free dentistry.
