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

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.