We know that metals aren’t the most biocompatible material to use for restorations. But now a new German study confirms just how commonly they cause problems for dental patients.
In this study, about 60% of patients reported an allergy, and more than half of all patients with allergies reported that they had allergic responses to metal.
If you have metal restorations you want removed or are looking for a metal-free dentist, Beyond Exceptional Dentistry can help. We pioneered the move away from metal restorations, becoming a strong, early advocate for the use of more attractive and biocompatible materials, and we honor that legacy today by helping people enjoy beautiful, healthy, metal-free restorations whenever possible.
If I Had a Nickel for Every Allergic Patient
The new study was conducted by German researchers and published in the Swiss Dental Journal in July. Researchers looked at 86 subjects with oral symptoms consistent with allergies. Patients ranged from 24 to 86 years in age, with an average age of 63 years.
Of these patients, about 60% reported one or more allergy, with more than half of them being allergic to metals. While some people did report allergies to composite materials, it was less than half as frequent as metals, and ceramic allergies were rare.
With metals, most people were allergic to multiple metals. The most common metal allergy was nickel, which accounted for 29% of all metal allergies. Cobalt was next, with 23% of all metal allergies, followed by palladium (13%) and metal amalgam (11%). Even gold, which is commonly thought to not cause allergies because of its noble, nonreactive nature, accounted for 6% of all reported metal allergies.
After metals, people reported allergies to cosmetic ingredients, composite materials, some drugs, and plastics. Local anesthesia was a very uncommon allergy trigger.
The Effects of Oral Allergies
So what effects did these allergies cause for patients? Most commonly, exams showed inflammation of the mouth and lips as well as itchy rashes in the mouth. They also had fissures in their tongue, and redness and swelling in their gums.
Patients also reported subjective complaints about their allergies. These included burning mouth, pain in their soft tissue, and inflammation. Some even said that their taste was impaired by their allergic response.
Avoid Metals at the Dentist
If you are getting dental work done at the dentist, it’s important to make sure you know what materials they are going to put in your mouth. Metal dental restorations, even those that are supposingly inert, can lead to an allergic response. This includes both metal fillings and metal crowns. This means that it’s important to avoid getting metal restorations whenever you can. These restorations have the problem of causing many potential symptoms. Beyond allergic responses, this might include tooth sensitivity, a metallic taste in the mouth, galvanic circuits, and more. Plus, these restorations are unattractive. Why get them?
Metal-Free Dentistry in Savannah, GA
If you need dental work, come to the pioneers in metal-free dentistry practicing in Savannah. We can help whether you want to avoid getting metal restorations or if you’re looking to remove metal restorations.
Please call (912) 234-8282 today for an appointment with a cosmetic dentist at Beyond Exceptional Dentistry.
