Regression of oral lichenoid lesions after replacement of dental restorations.

The aim of the study was to determine the prognosis and to evaluate the regression of lichenoid contact reactions (LCR) and oral lichen planus (OLP) after replacement of dental restorative materials suspected as causing the lesions. Forty-four referred patients with oral lesions participated in a follow-up study that was initiated an average of 6 years after the first examination at the Department of Odontology, i.e. the baseline examination. The patients underwent odontological clinical examination and answered a questionnaire with questions regarding dental health, medical and psychological health, and treatments undertaken from baseline to follow-up. After exchange of dental materials, regression of oral lesions was significantly higher among patients with LCR than with OLP. As no cases with OLP regressed after an exchange of materials, a proper diagnosis has to be made to avoid unnecessary exchanges of intact restorations on patients with OLP.

Changes in health over time in patients with symptoms allegedly caused by their dental restorative materials.

OBJECTIVES: In Sweden, many patients with symptoms allegedly caused by their dental materials have exchanged their restorations, but the effects of the exchange have been insufficiently investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to describe the change in health over time for these patients and the hypothesis was that the patients could be divided based on their symptoms and that the ability to recover differs between these groups. Furthermore, we also examined if other factors such as replacement of dental restorative materials and follow-up time had any impact on the perceived health status. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 614 patients who had been referred to the School of Dentistry, Umeå, Sweden, with symptoms allegedly caused by dental restorative materials. The response rate was 55%. RESULTS: The risk of having any further complaints was higher for patients with complex symptoms (P = 0.03) and these patients had exchanged their restorations to a significantly larger extent than the others (P = 0.03). The remaining complaints was more frequent among men (P = 0.02). Exchange of dental restorative materials had no significant impact on the ability to recover completely. However, the patients who had exchanged their restorations completely perceived a significantly larger alleviation of their symptoms than the others (P < 0.01), although the frequency of most of the symptoms had increased. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with complex symptoms had a more unfavorable long-term prognosis concerning persistent complaints than those with localized symptoms only. Furthermore, the results indicate that the patients might experience health improvements after removal of their dental restorative materials. The reason for this improvement, however, is unclear. Further analyses regarding other possible explanations than the 'odontological/medical' are needed.