How unexplained health complaints were attributed to dental amalgam

Abstract

Psychol.). Björkman and Bentung Lygre (Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit) both have backgrounds in dentistry, whereas Dalen (currently working at the private practice nevropsykolog.no) and Binder (Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology) are both specialists in clinical psychology. My own background is also in psychology (Cand. Psychol./certified psychologist). The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry granted me a three-year, full-time scholarship and one year of duty work. During these years, I was employed at the Department of Clinical Dentistry. As a Ph.D. candidate, I was enrolled in the doctoral programs at the Department of Clinical Dentistry, and at the Graduate School of Clinical and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology. The Biomaterials research group, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and the (now dissolved) Group for Qualitative Research on Mental Health, Faculty of Psychology, have also been important for the conceptualization and realization of the present work. The Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit covered the costs of the research project, with the exception of the qualitative part of the study that was partly funded by a research grant from the Meltzer Research Fund. The Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit also covered the cost of a small part-time position for me in the period 2013 to 2014. The Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services. First and foremost I would like to thank the patients and the dentists who participated in this study. Without you there would not have been a study. We are grateful and amazed that all twenty participants in the treatment group stayed with us through the five years follow-up. Thank you! Without my team of supervisors, I would not have been able to carry out and complete the present work. Even though the road we have travelled together has been bumpy at times, it has included life lessons, wonderful conversations and inspiring conference experiences that I will always treasure. Lars Björkman, thank you for the inspiring conversations we have had where we have tried to connect all the dots and made drafts of models explaining "everything". Gunvor Bentung Lygre, thank you for your patience and support and for always helping me simplify things. Knut Dalen, thank you for always being in a good mood and for your willingness to share your thoughts and expertise regarding ethical considerations in clinic and in research. Per-Einar Binder, thank you for your gentle supervision, mindful presence and wonderful insights. In addition to my supervisors, there have also been a number of other wonderful people in the environments where I have been working on my thesis. Every one of you deserves a personal thank you, and I hope you know who you are. Some people do however warrant a special mention: Vigdis Helland, you are a wonderful person, and I believe that I am a better person for having met you. Nils Roar Gjerdet, also a wonderful person I am happy to have met. Tha...

Patients' experiences of changes in health complaints before, during, and after removal of dental amalgam

“…Participants varied as to how and when dental amalgam was suspected to be a possible cause for their body not working properly (Sjursen et al, 2014). When they first contacted the specialty unit, there was considerable media coverage of possible harmful effects of dental amalgam, and all participants acknowledged having heard about this possible connection through the media or through accounts from friends and acquaintances.…”

“…It is well known that mercury vapor released from amalgam fillings can be inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream (Clarkson, Magos, & Myers, 2003). Some patients fear their health complaints might be caused or aggravated by mercury released from their amalgam fillings (Sjursen et al, 2014;Tillberg et al, 2005). Patients who attribute health complaints to their dental amalgam fillings are a heterogeneous group.…”

“…In a previous article (Sjursen et al, 2014), we explored how patients came to attribute their unexplained health complaints to dental amalgam. In this article, our aim is to explore how the same patients experienced and gave meaning to changes in health complaints before, during, and after amalgam removal.…”

Patients’ experiences of changes in health complaints before, during, and after removal of dental amalgam

“…It is well known that mercury vapor released from amalgam fillings can be inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream (Clarkson, Magos, & Myers, 2003 ). Some patients fear their health complaints might be caused or aggravated by mercury released from their amalgam fillings (Sjursen et al, 2014 ; Tillberg et al, 2005 ). Patients who attribute health complaints to their dental amalgam fillings are a heterogeneous group.…”

“…In a previous article (Sjursen et al, 2014 ), we explored how patients came to attribute their unexplained health complaints to dental amalgam. In this article, our aim is to explore how the same patients experienced and gave meaning to changes in health complaints before, during, and after amalgam removal.…”