A MULTICENTER SURVEY OF AMALGAM FILLINGS AND SUBJECTIVE COMPLAINTS INNONSELECTED PATIENTS IN THE DENTAL PRACTICE

The aims of this study were to examine whether there is a difference i n symptoms between patients with amalgam fillings and patients without such restorations. to investigate the relationship between particular symptoms and the number of amalgam filled surfaces, and the differenc es in symptoms between patients with and without removal of amalgam fi llings. Data from 6744 consecutive patients in 34 dental offices locat ed throughout Germany were documented. Patients completed a questionna ire answering 48 items, and the current oral findings in the patients were registered. The analysis was restricted to 4,787 patients aged 21 to 60 yr because of special dental conditions in children and elderly persons. The study did not show any significant correlation between t he intensity of complaints or particular groups of symptoms and the nu mber of amalgam-filled surfaces. A higher number of symptoms as well a s a higher intensity of symptoms were Found in patients before amalgam removal compared to the remaining patients. The question remains open whether or not there may be a certain kind of relationship between th e complaints and amalgam fillings in individual patients.