Clinical reports on several cases of treatment of the pain syndrome resulting from residual bone cavitiesi from extracted teeth with which etiology and symptoms are very similar to idiopathic trigeminalneuralgia or atypical facial pain. A new surgical technique is employed to successfully alleviate virtually all of the syri1ptoms and facilitates total remission of the facial pain and the “Phantom Tooth” syndrome.
Sixty-eight consecutive patients (9 males, 59 females) referred for symptoms alleged to be caused by oral galvanism were investigated according to a standardized examination program including clinical examination, epicutaneous patch test with dental materials, haematologic screening, salivary test, calculation of currents created at metallic contacts between restorative materials and testing of electrical taste thresholds. No clinical entity could be identified but recognized clinical conditions that could possibly explain the complaints for which the patients were referred were prevalent. The most common symptoms reported were a smarting sensation in the mouth (71%) and different distant symptoms (47%). As regards oral signs, some of them showed similar prevalences as have been found in a general Swedish population. The main exception was changes at the apex of the tongue – found in 15%. Allergic skin reactions to dental materials were found among 25% of the patients. Mean values of blood and saliva parameters did not differ from what is considered normal. The distribution of currents created by contacting dental metallic restorations showed no deviation from the corresponding currents calculated in a control group. The median value for lowest electrical taste threshold in the group of referred patients was significantly lower than in a control group.
RESULTS Mean mercury levels recorded during the amalgam removal procedure are shown in Fig. 1. Higher vapor levels were obtained with dry cutting than with wet cutting at each distance. Levels for dry cutting remained similar at all distances measured within 24 inches. Samples that were cut wet showed a general decrease in vapor levels as distance increased, although levels at 6 and 12 inches were similar and levels at 24 and 36 inches were equal. Sample means were compared statistically using a Student t-test.
Patient exposure to mercury from dental amalgam and restorative procedures has not been studied as extensively as mercury exposure to dental personnel. One. study found that in a group of 114 adults not undergoing dental treatment, only six had measurable mercury in the urine, and one of those persons was using a mercurial diuretic.’This was compared to a group of 24 persons currently undergoing dental treatment. Of that group five showed mercury in the urine before and after treatment.
A general dental practioner recently took 3 periapical radiographs fo a woman patient during endontic treatment of an upper incisor tooth. He later learnt that his patient had subsequently discovered that she was pregnant at the time of the dental treatment…
A New instrument has been developed suitable for making measurements of the potential and the polarization resistance of the metallic restorations in the oral cavity. An improved measuring electrode has been constructed. The equipment is convenient in clinical routine measurements.
The amounts of certain metallic components (Ag, Cu, Hg,Sn and Zn) in saliva possibly derived from dental metallic restorations and due to galvanic actions, were studied in twelve females. Three of these subjects were selected as they complained of certain oral mucosal symptoms and as, upon clinical examination, they were found to have enhanced galvanic action in terms of increased calculated currents at metallic contacts between restorative materials. The rest oflhe subjects did not experience any such symptoms and served as control groups by different criteria. The saliva concentrations of the various metallic components were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. They were not found to vary between the different groups. The results do not forward any support to the view that galvanic action in the oral cavity can give rise to increased metallic contents in saliva. They therefore question the suggestion that increased galvanic action will cause general toxic reactions through the saliva.
115 persons were studied from a body of patients referred to the Faculty of Odontology, University of Umeå, for investigation regarding any occurrence of oral galvanism. Potential and polarization of metallic restorations and dentures were recorded using a method and equipment previously described. Data regarding distribution of potential ranges with respect to number of patients and type of alloy are presented. The distribution of calculated intraoral currents in relation to number and type of metallic contacts is stated. Relevant parameters for the study of oral galvanic (bimetallic) cells are discussed.
A study was conducted to scrutinize the precision of a method for in vivo potential and polarization measurements. The variation with time of the magnitude of currents created at contacts between metallic dental restorations of varying age was also studied. The precision found indicates that the method allows for comparatively precise measurements of potentials to be taken. Studies of performed measurements of polarizations show that the precision of these measurements varies somewhat with contact conditions and the areas of restorations examined. The precision of the currents calculated was found sufficient for precise enough calculation to be made of the magnitude of currents created in the oral cavity. The study also shows a decrease with time of the magnitude of currents created at contact between metallic dental restorations of varying age.
An epidemiological study was performed in 250 persons who five years previously had been treated with extensive metallic reconstructions. To gain representative information these persons were selected at random from three Local Social Insurance Offices in different parts of Sweden. Those person, who in a questionnaire reported symptoms that could be alleged to have been caused by oral galvanic actions, were offered free clinical examination including quality evaluation and free measurements of potentials and polarizations of the metallic dental restorations. Persons from a subgroup to this study not suffering from any oral discomforts were chosen as a control group. Comparisons between the two groups were made in regard to current creation at metallic contacts, clinical quality and mucosal conditions. In none of the statistical analyses performed, differences could be shown between the groups. A tendency to higher amounts of restorative care at comparatively lower level of technical quality could, however, be noticed in the group of persons with oral symptoms which they themselves associated with oral galvanism.