title: The Australian public's perception of mercury risk from dental restorations.
abstract: The debate about mercury and dental amalgam has been one of the longest running in dentistry, and shows no signs of abating. This study aimed to investigate perceptions about mercury in dental fillings among a representative sample of the Australian public. A random sub-sample of participants in a national dental telephone interview survey completed a follow-up postal questionnaire which included four items on dental mercury. The postal survey response rate was 85.2%. Concern about mercury in dental fillings was expressed by 37.5%, while 16.2% reported having requested fillings that do not contain mercury. Avoidance of dental care because of concern about mercury in fillings was reported by 5.8%, but only 4.7% reported having had fillings replaced because they contained mercury. The data indicate that there is a substantial degree of concern about mercury and dental amalgam among the Australian public, but that the dental behavioural and treatment-pattern consequences of that concern are infrequent.
authors.affiliation: AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit, University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D003729:Dental Care; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011639:Public Opinion; D019233:Retreatment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury