The impact of the use of amalgams in the dentition on the appearance of the symptoms of restless legs syndrome developed by older people

Abstract

Key words: amalgam, lesions to brain cells, restless legs syndrome. The incidence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) increases with advancing age. RLS impairs normal functioning and decreases quality of life in the older population. Many older subjects have amalgam dental fillings containing mercury. Toxic mercury contained in these fillings may injure nervous cells and thus cause the occurrence of restless legs syndrome. We assessed the relationship of RLS symptoms to the use of amalgam in the dentition in 104 older polish immigrants aged 59–97 years living in Penrhos (North West Wales). We applied the diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) in the form of four questions of internationally used questionnaire in order to determine the appearance of the problem of RLS. In medical anamnesis we tackled the issue of the past and current possession of amalgam in the dentition, and the number of amalgam dental fillings and other metal dental restorative materials was examined. Subjects who answered yes (indicating presence of RLS) to the four consecutive questions had significantly higher number of amalgam dental fillings (2.3 vs 1.0; 2.5 vs 0.9; 2.3 vs 1, 2 and 2.5 vs 1.1; respectively) as compared to the subjects without RLS symptoms (Kruskal–Wallis test p -values were 0.04, 0.01, 0.08 and 0.03, respectively). The number of other metal dental restorative materials had no influence on RLS symptomatology. We conclude that while examining the correlates of the appearance of restless legs syndrome the use of amalgam in the dentition should be taken into account. The authors thank the elderly persons involved for their participation in this project.