Changes in health over time in patients with symptoms allegedly caused by their dental restorative materials

Tillberg, Anders; Berglund, Anders; Mårell, Lena; Bergdahl, Jan; Eriksson, N; Linden, G. H. M. van der; Stenberg, Berndt; Widman, Lars

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2005.00240.x

Cited by 18 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Several, mainly observational, trials have reported the improvement of various complaints after amalgam removal (Nerdrum et al, 2004;Lygre et al, 2005;Tillberg et al, 2005), while recent randomized trials showed no specific health effects of amalgam restorations in children (Bellinger et al, 2006;DeRouen et al, 2006). In our trial, amalgam removal was associated with a marked reduction in the participants' subjective health complaints.…”

Section: J Dent Res 87(4) 2008supporting

confidence: 42%

Treatment of Health Complaints Attributed to Amalgam

et al. 2008

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Treatment of health complaints attributed to amalgamMelchart, D; Vogt, S; Köhler, W; Streng, A; Weidenhammer, W; Kremers, L; Hickel, R; Felgenhauer, N; Zilker, T; Wühr, E; Halbach, S Abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the reduction of subjective complaints by 3 treatment strategies in 90 "amalgam patients" whose complaints could not be explained by a medical or psychological disorder. The individuals were randomly assigned either to removal of dental amalgam only (removal group), or removal in combination with a "biological detoxification" therapy with high doses of vitamins and trace elements (removal-plus group), or participation in a health promotion program without removal of dental amalgam (no-removal group). Between baseline and month 12, the sum score of main complaints decreased by 3.5 (SD = 2.2) points on average in the removal group as well as in the removal-plus group, and by 2.5 (SD = 2.4) points in the no-removal group (p = 0.152). Both removal groups showed a significant decrease in steady-state levels of inorganic mercury compared with the no-removal group. Thus, all 3 interventions were associated with clinically relevant improvements.

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Section: J Dent Res 87(4) 2008supporting

confidence: 42%

Treatment of Health Complaints Attributed to Amalgam

et al. 2008

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“…Most of the symptoms consistent with these ‘syndromes’ are common among the general population, and may be caused by a variety of factors (10). The symptoms found among the general population in Sweden correspond well with what was found in a study of patients ascribing their symptoms to dental amalgams (7). The symptoms were similar, but most symptoms were more frequently reported by the latter group.…”

supporting

confidence: 85%

Replacement of restorations in subjects with symptoms associated with dental restorations; a follow‐up study

Tillberg

Mårell

Berglund

et al. 2008

European J Oral Sciences

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The aim of this follow-up study was to assess the long-term development of symptoms and their social consequences among patients referred for diagnosis and treatment of symptoms believed to be related to dental-restorative materials. A questionnaire was sent to 614 such patients containing questions on civil status, present health, changes between baseline and follow-up, current employment situation, and consequences of the problems. The results showed that patients with complex symptoms at baseline had a worse prognosis (i.e. more symptoms remaining) at follow-up than patients with local symptoms only. Replacement of dental materials seemed to have the largest impact on the alleviation of the symptoms reported. Those with remaining complex symptoms had more often stopped working or had decreased their work hours because of their symptoms. Only one-sixth of the patients were symptom-free at the follow-up. Our results indicate a relationship between patients with complex symptoms and social consequences in daily life. Therefore, social factors must be taken into consideration when examining the patients. Dental, medical, and social factors have to be considered simultaneously when examining a patient with symptoms that they relate to dental materials, in order to recommend appropriate care-management programs for this group of patients.

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“…According to Göthe and Molin (Gothe, Molin, & Nilsson, 1995), patients with environmental intolerance and symptoms attributed to dental restorative materials and/or electromagnetic fields present multi-symptomatic conditions. Patients suffer from dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, headache, and musculoskeletal pain, as well as experience sleeping problems and concentration and memory disturbances (Tillberg et al, 2005). To date, research on the health effects of mercury released from dental amalgam and its subsequent uptake has failed to explain the clinical symptoms (Berglund, 1990; SCENIHR, 2008).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“Struggle to obtain redress”: Women’s experiences of living with symptoms attributed to dental restorative materials and/or electromagnetic fields

Mårell

Lindgren

Nyhlin

et al. 2016

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of illness and the encounters with health care professionals among women who attributed their symptoms and illness to either dental restorative materials and/or electromagnetic fields, despite the fact that research on health effects from dental fillings or electricity has failed to substantiate the reported symptoms. Thirteen women (aged 37–63 years) were invited to the study and a qualitative approach was chosen as the study design, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The analysis was conducted with a constant comparative method, according to Grounded Theory. The analysis of the results can be described with the core category, “Struggle to obtain redress,” the two categories, “Stricken with illness” and “A blot in the protocol,” and five subcategories. The core category represents the women's fight for approval and arose in the conflict between their experience of developing a severe illness and the doctors’ or dentists’ rejection of the symptoms as a disease, which made the women feel like malingerers. The informants experienced better support and confirmation from alternative medicine practitioners. However, sick-leave certificates from alternative medicine practitioners were not approved and this led to a continuous cycle of visits in the health care system. To avoid conflicting encounters, it is important for caregivers to listen to the patient's explanatory models and experience of illness, even if a medical answer cannot be given.

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Changes in health over time in patients with symptoms allegedly caused by their dental restorative materials

Cited by 18 publications

References 19 publications

Treatment of Health Complaints Attributed to Amalgam

Treatment of Health Complaints Attributed to Amalgam

Replacement of restorations in subjects with symptoms associated with dental restorations; a follow‐up study

“Struggle to obtain redress”: Women’s experiences of living with symptoms attributed to dental restorative materials and/or electromagnetic fields

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