Al-Nahedh Hend N, El-Hejazi Ahmed A, Habib Syed Rashid
Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Eur J Dent. 2020 Mar;14(2):233-238. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1709829. Epub 2020 May 12.
The aim of this study was to assess: (1) the perceptions of dentists in Saudi Arabia concerning the amalgam controversy, (2) their attitude toward the ethical responsibility of patient information, and (3) patients' knowledge and attitude toward the use of dental amalgam.
A total of 1,139 dentists were sampled on convenience by electronic survey. The questionnaire contained questions about the safety of dental amalgam, use of amalgam, case selection, alternate materials, and informing their patients about risks of amalgam. Also, 425 patients were sampled on convenience and information collected on their knowledge about amalgam and its acceptance in their oral cavities.
A total of 201 dentists and 425 patients participated in the study. A total of 60% of dentists and specialists declared it safe. A total of 32.4% (31) of general dental practitioners and 41% (43) specialists considered it a moral obligation to inform patients about the potential health risks associated with amalgam. Mercury toxicity was identified as the most common health hazard. About 57.3% dentists and 36.2% specialists opted for superior longevity as the principle advantage. Majority of patients (52.2%) in Saudi Arabia had no knowledge about dental amalgam. While 23.1% (98) had concern about poor color, 8.7% (30) knew it contained silver while only 7.8% (27) patients were aware of its mercury content.
Majority of dentists in Saudi Arabia found it safe to use amalgam while the patients had little knowledge about the possible issues with amalgam. It is recommended to improve public awareness about impact of mercury containing products on the environment.
本研究旨在评估：（1）沙特阿拉伯牙医对汞合金争议的看法；（2）他们对患者信息伦理责任的态度；（3）患者对使用牙科汞合金的知识和态度。
通过电子调查方便抽样选取了1139名牙医。问卷包含有关牙科汞合金安全性、汞合金使用、病例选择、替代材料以及告知患者汞合金风险等问题。此外，方便抽样选取了425名患者，并收集了他们关于汞合金的知识及其在口腔中接受程度的信息。
共有201名牙医和425名患者参与了研究。共有60%的牙医和专科医生宣称其安全。共有32.4%（31名）的普通牙科医生和41%（43名）的专科医生认为告知患者汞合金相关潜在健康风险是一项道德义务。汞中毒被确定为最常见的健康危害。约57.3%的牙医和36.2%的专科医生选择卓越的耐久性作为主要优势。沙特阿拉伯大多数患者（52.2%）对牙科汞合金一无所知。虽然23.1%（98名）担心颜色不佳，8.7%（30名）知道其含银，而只有7.8%（27名）患者意识到其汞含量。
沙特阿拉伯大多数牙医认为使用汞合金是安全的，而患者对汞合金可能存在的问题知之甚少。建议提高公众对含汞产品对环境影响的认识。
