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Metal content of biopsies adjacent to dental cast alloys

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Abstract

Single case reports indicate that components of dental alloys accumulate in the adjacent soft tissue of the oral cavity. However, data on a wider range of dental alloys and patient groups are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the metal content of oral tissues adjacent to dental alloys showing persisting signs of inflammation or other discoloration (affected sites) and of healthy control sites with no adjacent metal restoration in 28 patients. The composition of the adjacent alloys was analyzed and compared to the alloy components in the affected sites. Tissue analysis was performed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Alloy analysis was performed with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. In the affected sites, the metals Ag, Au, Cu, and Pd prevailed compared to control sites, reflecting the frequency distribution of single metals in the adjacent alloys. In most cases (84%), at least one of the analyzed metals was a component of the alloy and also detected in the tissue. Metal components from almost all dental cast alloys can be detected in adjacent tissue.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the German Ministry of Health. We thank Peter Geisenberger for EDX analysis of the cast alloys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University Clinics of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany

    Pauline Garhammer, G. Schmalz, K.-A. Hiller & T. Reitinger

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  1. Pauline Garhammer
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  2. G. Schmalz
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  3. K.-A. Hiller
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  4. T. Reitinger
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Correspondence to Pauline Garhammer.

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Garhammer, P., Schmalz, G., Hiller, KA. et al. Metal content of biopsies adjacent to dental cast alloys. Clin Oral Invest 7, 92–97 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-003-0204-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-003-0204-9

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