title: Potential side effects of dental amalgam restorations. (I). An oral and medical investigation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore a possible association between health status and self-reported adverse effects related to dental amalgam restorations. A group of 50 consecutive patients (index group), referred for complaints self-related to dental amalgam restorations, was compared with a control group of individuals matched by age, sex and postal zip code. The patients underwent an oral, stomatognathic, medical and clinical chemistry examination. Mercury levels were examined in blood, urine and hair. The results revealed that somatic diseases were more common in the index group (38% versus 6%). Symptoms related to cranio-mandibular dysfunction were reported by 74% of the patients in the index group versus 24% in the control group, and were diagnosed in 62% and 36%, respectively. The oral health status and the number of amalgam surfaces were similar in the 2 groups. No positive skin patch test to mercury was found in any of the groups. The estimated mercury intake from fish consumption, occupational exposure, and mercury levels in blood and urine were also similar and far below levels, where negative health effects would be expected. The correlation between the number of amalgam surfaces and mercury levels in plasma and urine (r=0.43) indicated a release of mercury from dental amalgam restorations in both groups. Since the mercury levels were similar among index patients and controls, mercury was not a likely cause of the impaired health reported by the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology/Oral Diagnosis, Faculty of Odontology, Göteborg University, Sweden. John.Bratel@odontologi.gu.se
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bratel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haraldson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meding
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yontchev
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ohman
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ottosson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003343:Corrosion; D017271:Craniomandibular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis; D004194:Disease / Q000209:etiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009909:Oral Health; D010328:Patch Tests; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury