Mercury, a fixture of dentistry for more than 175 years, is finally set for extinction.

Countries around the world agreed on Friday to phase out the use of mercury-based dental amalgams by 2034 in a decisive step towards protecting human health from the toxic metal.

At a conference in Geneva, signatories to the Minamata Convention on Mercury – aimed at protecting humans and the environment from mercury pollution – called time on mercury amalgams.

Nations agreed “to end the use of dental amalgam by 2034, marking a historic milestone in reducing mercury pollution”, the conference announced in its closing statement.

Some countries have already banned its use in dental amalgam, a common filling material used for more than 175 years.