Many dentists believed they still had a few years left and that they would be able to continue placing the legally permitted “silver fillings” (with approximately 70% alloy content of amalgam).

Then, about a year ago, quite unexpectedly and with great urgency, the EU-wide ban was brought forward.

There appears to be a systemic silver shortage. Those who are well informed are likely aware of this. At the very least, the demand side from dentistry was politically eliminated—not an entirely insignificant factor.

The connection between the early EU amalgam ban and this issue is admittedly only my personal theory, but at this point I no longer believe in coincidences.