The DMPS mobilization test is suited for assaying reserves of mercury in the human organism. Replicable and mutually comparable results are attainable only through standardization of test conditions.
Fluoridated mouthrinses are not advised for preschool children who may swallow much of the agent. An alternate method of delivering topical fluoride to the interproximal tooth surfaces in these young patients may be fluoridated dental floss. The purpose of this study was to determine the fluoride levels of demineralized primary enamel both before and after the use of a commercially available dental floss impregnated with commercially available fluoride-containing products. The results showed that demineralized primary tooth surfaces treated with fluoride-impregnated dental floss exhibited significantly higher fluoride levels than those surfaces treated by immersion in a fluoridated mouthrinse or deionized water.
The importance of copper nutriture is obvious due to its requirement in enzyme systems. Often the adverse effects of copper toxicity are given more consideration than copper deficiency. However, copper balance is important particularly in relationship to other nutrients. Just as much consideration should be given to the possibility of copper deficiency as to copper toxicity.
The various defects in cell-mediated immunity in psoriasis might also involve a loss of tolerance to nickel, high levels of which have been detected in psoriatic keratin (I). No data is available on the frequency of nickel sensitivity in psoriasis. A nickel induced psoriatic response strictly limited to the site of contact, with no evidence of the disease elsewhere, is rarely detected in this unit. A preliminary study was therefore undertaken to assess the frequency of concurrent nickel-induced psoriasis, especially in young women.
Restorative alloys with a high percentage of nickel are relatively new to the field of fixed prosthodontics. These alloys have gained favor because of their strength and low cost. Since 1970, the use of these alloys has climbed from small usage to 32’70 to 80’70 of the restorations in the United States. Clinically, these alloys appear to perform as well as the gold based alloys. Although the problems with base metal alloys seem to be minor, there are concerns that longitudinal and epidemiologic studies may show biocompatibility problems in patient sensitivity, and carcinogenicity in the laboratory technician and dentist.
Genotoxicity of Sodium fluoride was evaluated in mice in vivo with the help of different cytogenetic assays. The frequency of chromosome aberration was dose—and time—dependent but not exactly route-dependant. Fractionated dosing induced less aberration. Incidence of micronucleus and sperm abnormality increased with dose. Relative sensitivity of the three assays has been found to be: Sperm abnormality > Chromosome aberration > Micronucleus. The present results have revealed the mutagenic property of NaF.
This study examined the contact surface area in the coupling of a class II amalgam restoration with another class II amalgam restoration or with a stainless steel or nickel-chrome crown in 1% NaCl solution. The characterization of interfaces was carried out by using SEM and EDX microanalysis. The results indicate that the coupling of an amalgam-stainless steel crown and an amalgam-inconel crown in NaCl solution forms a deposit on the crown surfaces. This deposit contains all the constituents of corrodible phases of amalgam, including Zn. If amalgam restorations in adjoining teeth are contemplated, non-Zn-containing amalgam alloys of the same composition should be considered.
The main current-generating corrosion cells in the oral cavity are the bimetallic cell and the concentration cell, the latter mainly occurring due to differences in access to oxygen in the various parts of the metallic material. Corrosion resistance is not an intrinsic property of a metal or an alloy for it depends on an interaction with the environment. Thus, the contents of the oral cavity, have a decisive influence. This implies that corrosion tests in vitro are of limited value in predicting the clinical corrosion behaviour of a metallic material. Results from a series of clinical studies concerning a possible relationship between galvanic currents and certain oral and other symptoms in a group of patients who had been referred to the Faculty of Odontology, University of Umeå, are briefly presented. The possibility of local and systemic effects of intra-oral galvanic cells is discussed.
One hundred consecutive patients, 74 women and 26 men, aged between 18 and 83 years (mean = 54.8 years), referred with complaints related to oral galvanism were investigated and treated and the treatment results were evaluated after 2-3 years. Forty of the patients reported facial pain, pain from the teeth, temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and masticatory muscles and TMJ clicking and locking and 26 reported headache. Smarting in the oral mucosa, smarting of the tongue and xerostomia were reported by 26, 21 and 24 patients, respectively, and 30 patients reported an unpleasant taste, a metallic taste or a battery taste. The same patient often reported several symptoms. The patients also reported various general symptoms, above all joint symptoms, pain in the back, neck and shoulders and general muscular pain but also tiredness, weakness, difficulty in concentrating, depression and insomnia. After clinical and radiological examination, salivary tests, determination of the maximum galvanic current at metallic contacts and screening for contact allergy to dental materials, various oral diagnoses could be established. Most of the patients exhibited functional disturbances of the masticatory system, periodontitis, smarting of the oral mucosa, xerostomia, pulpitis and pulpal necrosis and mucosal lesions. The medical illnesses the patients reported themselves to be suffering from or had been treated for included cardiovascular disorders, high and low blood pressure, asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, pernicious anaemia, gastritis and peptic ulcer. Seventy-six patients took drugs regularly. In most cases there were several oral, dental and medical explanations for the symptoms.
US. safety standards for mercury exposure, as established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (1972) is 0.1 mg/ M3 7- ten times this amount. Later, in 1972, the standard was lowered to 0.05 mg/M3 (ANSI, 1972) based on the studies of Smith et al. (1970). In the October issue of the ADA Journal, it recommends 0.02 mg/M3 (Kantor and Woqdcock, 1981). Russia established 0.01 mg as their maximum allowable count ration more than 30 years ago (Smelyanskiy and Nlanova, 1959). Trackh ten berg (1974) states, “Changes in immunological reactivity brought on by low mercury concentration generally fall into two periods, one of stimulated immunological reactivity, and the second in which it begins to decline.” Excerpts from his studies demonstrate these changes