The Australian public's perception of mercury risk from dental restorations

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dc.contributor.authorThomson, W.
dc.contributor.authorStewart, J.
dc.contributor.authorCarter, K.
dc.contributor.authorSpencer, A.
dc.date.issued1997
dc.description.abstractThe debate about mercury and dental amalgam has been one of the longest running in dentistry, and shows no signs of abating. This study aimed to investigate perceptions about mercury in dental fillings among a representative sample of the Australian public. A random sub-sample of participants in a national dental telephone interview survey completed a follow-up postal questionnaire which included four items on dental mercury. The postal survey response rate was 85.2%. Concern about mercury in dental fillings was expressed by 37.5%, while 16.2% reported having requested fillings that do not contain mercury. Avoidance of dental care because of concern about mercury in fillings was reported by 5.8%, but only 4.7% reported having had fillings replaced because they contained mercury. The data indicate that there is a substantial degree of concern about mercury and dental amalgam among the Australian public, but that the dental behavioural and treatment-pattern consequences of that concern are infrequent.
dc.identifier.citationCommunity Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1997; 25(6):391-395
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1600-0528.1997.tb01728.x
dc.identifier.issn0301-5661
dc.identifier.issn1600-0528
dc.identifier.orcidCarter, K. [0000-0002-6710-4029]
dc.identifier.orcidSpencer, A. [0000-0002-3462-7456]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/1490
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMUNKSGAARD INT PUBL LTD
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.1997.tb01728.x
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectMercury
dc.subjectDental Amalgam
dc.subjectRetreatment
dc.subjectFollow-Up Studies
dc.subjectDental Care
dc.subjectDental Restoration, Permanent
dc.subjectAttitude to Health
dc.subjectHealth Behavior
dc.subjectDental Anxiety
dc.subjectAge Factors
dc.subjectSex Factors
dc.subjectSocial Class
dc.subjectPublic Opinion
dc.subjectTelephone
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectAged
dc.subjectAged, 80 and over
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectOral Health
dc.subjectEducational Status
dc.subjectAustralia
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectInterviews as Topic
dc.subjectSurveys and Questionnaires
dc.titleThe Australian public's perception of mercury risk from dental restorations
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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