Changes in health complaints after removal of amalgam fillings.

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Changes in health complaints after removal of amalgam fillings.

Sjursen TT , Lygre GB , Dalen K , Helland V , Laegreid T , Svahn J , Lundekvam

BF , Björkman L . Source

Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen Dental Biomaterials

Adverse Reaction Unit, Uni Health Department of Biological and Medical

Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Abstract

Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate whether removal of all

amalgam fillings was associated with long-term changes in health complaints in a

group of patients who attributed subjective health complaints to amalgam

fillings. Patients previously examined at the Norwegian Dental Biomaterials

Adverse Reaction Unit were included in the study and assigned to a treatment

group (n = 20) and a reference group (n = 20). Participants in the treatment

group had all amalgam fillings replaced with other restorative materials.

Follow-ups took place 3 months, 1 and 3 years after removal of all amalgam

fillings. There was no intervention in the reference group. Subjective health

complaints were measured by numeric rating scales in both groups. Analysis of

covariance was used to compare changes in health complaints over time in the two

groups. In the treatment group, there wer e significant reductions in intra-oral

and general health complaints from inclusion into study to the 3-year follow-up.

In the reference group, changes in the same period were not significant.

Comparisons between the groups showed that reductions in intra-oral and general

health complaints in the treatment group were significantly different from the

changes in the reference group. The mechanisms behind this remain to be

identified. Reduced exposure to dental amalgam, patient-centred treatment and

follow-ups, and elimination of worry are factors that may have influenced the

results.