Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):141-148 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8978

Perceptions of dental amalgam use and regulation among health and science students and academic staff in the Czech Republic: a cross-sectional study

Lenka Vavřičková^{1, 2}, Jan Schmidt^{1, 2}, Anna Krejčová³, Anna Horňáková⁴, Milan Tuček⁴, Martin Kapitán^{1, 2}

¹ Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

² Department of Dentistry, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

³ Institute of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic

⁴ Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

Objectives: This study assessed perceptions of health and science students and academic staff regarding the health risks, environmental impact, and regulation of dental amalgam (DA). As DA faces increasing restrictions, understanding the views of students and academic staff is essential for evaluating educational and policy readiness.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 1,230 participants in the Czech Republic. The questionnaire explored awareness of mercury exposure from DA, health and environmental concerns, and familiarity with regulations. Responses were statistically compared across disciplines.

Results: Overall, 35.8% of respondents did not recognize DA as a mercury source, and 48.5% did not view it as a health risk. Most did not consider DA an occupational hazard for dental professionals. However, 55.3% saw it as an environmental pollutant. While 59.2% supported restricting DA use in pregnant women and 51.0% in children, only 22.0% supported a complete ban. Most respondents preferred composites for aesthetic reasons (88.5%) rather than health concerns. Dental students differed significantly from other groups in several key areas, particularly regarding perceived health risks and support for restrictions on dental amalgam use.

Conclusions: Perceptions of dental amalgam differed according to educational background. While most participants supported restricting its use in vulnerable populations, dental students were less likely to perceive it as a significant health risk and were less supportive of a complete ban. These findings highlight the importance of evidence-based education and public health communication regarding dental amalgam and mercury-related issues.

Keywords: dental amalgam, mercury exposure, dentistry, health risks, environmental impact

Received: March 2, 2026; Revised: June 28, 2026; Accepted: June 28, 2026; Published: June 30, 2026  Show citation