• Health complaints attributed to dental amalgam: a retrospective survey exploring perceived health changes related to amalgam removal 

      Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Alræk, Terje; Stub, Trine; Hamre, Harald Johan; Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2016)
      Background: Many patients have complex health complaints they attribute to dental amalgam. There is some evidence of symptom relief after removal of amalgam. Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the total symptom load in patients with all their amalgam fillings removed, and to investigate the self-reported improvement of health with regard to precautions taken under amalgam ...
    • Is amalgam removal in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms cost-effective? A prospective cohort and modelling study in Norway 

      Lamu, Admassu Nadew; Björkman, Lars; Hamre, Harald Johan; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Robberstad, Bjarne (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-04-29)
      There are many patients in general practice with health complaints that cannot be medically explained. Some of these patients attribute their health complaints to dental amalgam restorations. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of the removal of amalgam restorations in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) attributed to amalgam fillings compared to usual care, based ...
    • Removal of dental amalgam restorations in patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam: A prospective cohort study 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Weidenhammer, Wolfgang; Hamre, Harald Johan (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-08-18)
      <i>Background</i> - The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services initiated a project including experimental treatment for patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam restorations.<br><br> <i>Objective</i> - The aim was to evaluate changes of general health complaints in patients who participated in the project and had all amalgam restorations removed.<br><br> <i>Methods</i> - ...
    • Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with health complaints attributed to former dental amalgam fillings 

      Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Musial, Frauke; Hamre, Harald Johan; Björkman, Lars; Stub, Trine; Salamonsen, Anita; Alræk, Terje (Conference object; Konferansebidrag, 2016-09-09)
      Some patients experience health complaints which they attribute to dental amalgam. The symptom pattern is similar to medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). The most common amalgam related symptoms are fatigue/exhaustion, dizziness, mental symptoms (concentration and memory disturbances, anxiety, irritability, restlessness and depression), pain (muscle, joint, neck and shoulder, ...
    • Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with health complaints attributed to former dental amalgam fillings. 

      Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Musial, Frauke; Hamre, Harald Johan; Björkman, Lars; Stub, Trine; Salamonsen, Anita; Alræk, Terje (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2016-01-22)
      <p>Background The dental filling material amalgam is generally well tolerated. However, a small proportion of dental patients experience health complaints which they attribute to amalgam. The symptom pattern is often similar to patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) and the health complaints may persist after amalgam removal. Among patients with MUPS, the use of complementary ...
    • Utprøvende behandling ved helseplager attribuert til amalgamfyllinger. En prospektiv kohortstudie 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Hamre, Harald Johan (Research report; Forskningsrapport, 2022-06)
      På oppdrag fra Helsedirektoratet har Bivirkningsgruppen for odontologiske biomaterialer gjennomført et prosjekt med utprøvende behandling rettet mot pasienter med langvarige medisinsk uforklarte helseplager (MUPS) som de selv mente hadde sammenheng med amalgamfyllinger. Pasientene ble på forhånd undersøkt av tannlege og lege i henhold til gjeldende retningslinjer og fikk deretter skiftet ut alle ...
    • Validity and responsiveness of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D in patients with health complaints attributed to their amalgam fillings: a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing amalgam removal 

      Lamu, Admassu N.; Björkman, Lars; Hamre, Harald Johan; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Robberstad, Bjarne (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-04-17)
      <i>Background</i> - Evidence of health utility changes in patients who suffer from longstanding health complaints attributed to dental amalgam fillings are limited. The change in health utility outcomes enables calculating quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and facilitates the comparison with other health conditions. The purpose of this study was to estimate the validity and responsiveness of the ...
    • Validity and responsiveness of GHC-index in patients with amalgam-attributed health complaints 

      Lamu, Admassu Nadew; Robberstad, Bjarne; Hamre, Harald Johan; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Björkman, Lars (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-10-15)
      Objective - Many patients have medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS); some of them attribute their health complaints to dental amalgam fillings. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and responsiveness of General Health Complaints index (GHC-index) for measuring the symptom load in MUPS patients compared to the widely used symptom outcome measure, Giessen Subjective Complaints ...