A clinical study of casessuspected as allergic to dental metals

Akihiko Hashimoto,TuyosiWagata,Yasutomo Nishizawa, Hiroyuki Yamada,Noriaki Orikasa andHaruka Kusakari
The Second Department of ProstheticDentistry,School of Dentistry,
Niigata University (Chief:Prof.Haruka Kusakari)

Abstract:
A clinical study was conducted on 102 subjects (31 men and 71women),who were suspected to be allergic to dental metals.In eachcase,patchtest was performed and metal samples were analyzedbyEPMA.From February 1990 to July 1995,the metal restorations wereremoved in 33 cases.Eighty pa- tients (78.4%) revealed positivereactions on the patch test,and in 57 of these cases metal aller-gens were detected intraorally.Clinical diagnoses were classifiedas follows,30 cases of pustulosis palmaris et plantaris,28 casesof dermatitis and eczema,19 cases of glossodynia and burningmouth syndrome,15 cases of lichen planus,8 cases of stomatitisand 2 unclassified cases.After allergenwas removed in the 33subjects,27 of these (81.8%)experienced reduction of symptoms,butin 6 sub- jects, no effectwas observed.The removed restora- tionswere replaced with titanium or Au-Ag-Pd al- loy.After treatmentcompletion,no recurrent case was recorded in the 27 patients,thusallergy to certain dental metals may have caused the symptomsofthose subjects.

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