Aim of the study: To research the perceptions of patients in the Diyarbakir region in respect of the toxicity of mercury in amalgam fillings. Materials and methods: The study included 500 patients with at least one amalgam filling who attended the clinic for routine dental treatments. Data were gathered using a single-page questionnaire The questions on the form related to age, gender, marital status, level of education, economic status, types of dental filling, whether or not the amalgam

more »

... g included mercury and whether or not mercury was harmful to human health. Questions were also asked to ascertain the patient's level of knowledge in respect of mercury, amalgam fillings and human health. Results: A total of 500 patients were included in the study, comprising 283 (56.6%) females and 217 (43.4%) males. When economic status was questioned, 267 (53.4%) patients reported monthly income of 0-1000TL and 233 (46.6%) patients reported more than 1000TL. The level of education was primary school in 110 (22%) patients, high school in 159 (31.8%), university or post-graduate in 190 (38%) and 41 (8.2%) were illiterate. The type of dental filling was unknown by 64.4% of patients and 59.6% did not know that the amalgam filling contained mercury. 52.6% of the patients did not know whether or not mercury was harmful and 72% did not know whether or not mercury in amalgam was harmful. Conclusion: A low level of awareness was determined in the study participants in respect of the toxicity of mercury in amalgam fillings.