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Health‐related quality of life and symptoms in patients with experiences of health problems related to dental restorative materials
Author(s) -
NaimiAkbar Aron,
Svedberg Pia,
Alexanderson Kristina,
CarlstedtDuke Bodil,
Ekstrand Jan,
Englund Gunilla Sandborgh
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/cdoe.12002
Subject(s) - medicine , dental health , quality of life (healthcare) , dentistry , oral health , quality (philosophy) , nursing , philosophy , epistemology
Abstract Objectives The question of health risks associated with dental materials, especially dental amalgam, has long been controversial and remains unresolved. For the past 10 years, people in S weden with perceived adverse reactions to dental restorative materials have been entitled to apply to their local county council for subsidized replacement of restorative materials. The aim of the study was to investigate symptoms, perceived health changes over time and health‐related quality of life ( HRQ o L ) in this population, comprising subjects with subjective health impairment, allegedly because of dental materials. A further aim was to compare their HRQ o L with that of the general population. Methods A comprehensive questionnaire was sent to 515 people who had applied for subsidized replacement of dental restorations. The questionnaire covered general and oral symptoms, HRQ o L , health ratings over time and dental restoration replacement. Results The response rate was 54.4% ( n = 280). Most (83.2%) answered that they had undergone replacement of restorative materials because of impaired health, perceived to be related to dental restorative materials. The most common symptoms were musculoskeletal pain (67.5%), sleep disturbance (60.0%) and fatigue (58.6%). The HRQ o L of the study subjects was significantly lower than that of the S wedish population in general. Conclusions Subjects who had undergone subsidized dental restoration replacement reported persistent subjective symptoms and low HRQ o L . The results indicate that replacement of restorative materials alone is insufficient to achieve improved health in patients with symptoms allegedly attributable to dental restorations.