Assessment of allergic hypersensitivity to dental materials
Issue title: Selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Nanotoxicity Assessment and Biomedical Environmental Application of Fine Particles and Nanotubes, Hokkaido, Japan, 16–17 June 2008, Part 1
Affiliations: Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan | Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan | Department of General Dentistry, University Medical and Dental Hospital, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
Note: [] Address for correspondence: M. Hosoki, Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8504 Japan. Tel.: +81 88 633 7350; Fax: +81 88 633 7391; E-mail: hosoki@dent.tokushima-u.ac.jp.
Abstract: Some metallic materials in dental prostheses may cause allergic hypersensitivity. Symptoms appear not only in the oral cavity, but also on hands, feet or the entire body. Release of metal ions is thought to cause the allergic reactions; micro-particles of the corrosion products of the metal and/or ionic metal hydroxides/oxides may be the allergens. The study purpose was to review clinical surveillance of dental allergic hypersensitivity in our dental hospital. From July 2000 to June 2005, 212 patients with suspected dental metal allergy were patch tested with 26 reagents, including 19 ready-made patch test reagents (Patch test reagents™, Torii Pharmaceutical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and 9 custom-made reagents. One-hundred-and-sixty-seven patients were females (78.8%) and 45 patients were males (21.2%). A total of 148 patients (69.8%) had one or more positive patch test reactions. The most common allergens were nickel (25.0%), palladium (24.4%), chromium (16.7%), cobalt (15.9%) and stannum (12.5%). Typical allergic symptoms and diagnoses were Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris, lichen planus, stomatitis and contact dermatitis. This study indicates that dentists and dental researchers should be concerned about the allergenic potential of dental metal materials.
Keywords: Allergic reactions, dental materials, patch test
