Dental restorative materials and the prevalence of eczema, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, and asthma in schoolchildren. Dental amalgam and allergy in schoolchildren.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between allergic diseases (eczema, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, and asthma) and different types of dental restorative materials (amalgam, composite, and glass ionomer) in Swedish schoolchildren.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey with a questionnaire asking for symptoms of allergic disease during the previous year. This information was combined with current dental status (number and type of filled tooth surfaces).


METHODS
Primary care and a school in the centre of a middle-sized Swedish town (approx. 80,000 inhabitants).


METHODS
348 pupils of both sexes 13-15 years old.


METHODS
The occurrence of allergic disease in pupils with and without dental fillings of different types. The mean number and type of filled tooth surfaces in diseased and healthy pupils.


RESULTS
44% of the pupils had no amalgam fillings. This group of children reported significantly more often asthmatic symptoms than the group with amalgam (P = 0.02). The asthmatic children had a lower mean number of amalgam surfaces than the other pupils (P = 0.002) and also a lower mean number of filled tooth surfaces of all types.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study do not support the theory that amalgam fillings increase the prevalence of allergic diseases or allergic reactivity as such in schoolchildren. Neither do composite and glass ionomer seem to cause such complications.
Herrström
P
P
Hertig Knut Health Centre, Halmstad.
Högstedt
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000009:adverse effects; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004485:Eczema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013548:Sweden
D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D003723:Dental Amalgam