[Health complaints related to dental filling materials].
BACKGROUND
A wide range of materials is used in dental treatment. To what extent these materials lead to adverse reactions is under dispute. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with suspected adverse reactions to dental materials experienced an improvement in health after these materials were replaced.


METHODS
Information on health complaints related to dental materials was obtained from the Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit in Bergen, Norway for 142 patients. A follow-up questionnaire regarding subjective health was sent to these patients 1(1/2) to 2(1/2) years later. A similar questionnaire was sent to a reference group of 800 persons drawn from the general population.


RESULTS
The patient group had more health complaints than the reference group (p < 0.001) at baseline. Of the 84 patients who completed the questionnaire (59%) 35 had changed dental materials. Amalgam fillings had been replaced in most of these patients. 23 patients (66%) reported improved health after replacement. Intraoral complaints decreased significantly (p = 0.022), and were most pronounced in patients with lesions in contact with dental materials. The intensity of various health complaints decreased slightly in most patients with replaced dental materials, but the patient group still had significantly higher health complaint indices than the reference group.


CONCLUSIONS
The intensity of subjective health complaints was reduced after replacement of dental materials, but it was still higher than for a comparable group in the general population. The results indicate that there may be a specific health effect of replacing dental materials, but normal symptom fluctuations over time and placebo effects such as positive effects from expectations and general care from the health personnel may have had an influence.
Lygre
Gunvor Bentung
GB
Bivirkningsgruppen for odontologiske, biomaterialer, UNIFOB, Arstadveien 17, 5009 Bergen. gunvor.lygre@odont.uib.no
Helland
Vigdis
V
Gjerdet
Nils Roar
NR
Björkman
Lars
L
D000328:Adult; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003764:Dental Materials; D006047:Gold Alloys; D003723:Dental Amalgam