Abstract
Many in vitro studies have confirmed the corrosion of dental alloys. However, in vivo corrosion studies, for example, recording of the release of metal ions into saliva, are scarce, and data on the repeatability of the metal content measurements of saliva are lacking. The present study examined the metal content of saliva of patients with and without metal restorations and assessed the repeatability of these data. The composition of each patient’s oral cast alloys was analyzed using the energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of metal biopsy specimens and was compared to the metals found in saliva. Saliva analysis was performed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Chemical analysis comprised the metals Ag, Au, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Ni, Pd, Pt, Sn, and Zn. The metals Ag, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn were found in saliva of patients without metal restorations, but these data showed statistically significant differences in the metal content between consecutively performed samples per patient. The metals Ag, Au, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn were identified in saliva of patients with metal restorations being higher in concentration than in control patients. In 77% of the cases at least one metal of the restoration was found in the patient’s saliva. However, the metal content showed statistically significant differences between replicate samples of the same patient taken at different times. The metal content of saliva is affected among other things by intraoral metal restorations, but present data do not support the idea that it is a reliable indicator for the systemic exposure to metals released from dental alloys.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Björkman L, Ekstrand J, Lind B (1998) Determination of gold released from dental alloys into saliva (abstract). J Dent Res 77:765
Bumgardner JD, Johansson BI (1998) Effects of titanium-dental restorative alloys galvanic couples on cultured cells. J Biomed Mater Res 43:184–191
Catalanatto FA, Sunderman FW Jr (1977) Nickel concentrations in human parotid saliva. Ann Clin Lab Sci 7:146–151
Datenbank für dentale Metallegierungen (1997) Von Praktikern für Praktiker; für (fast) alle Legierungen, die Zahnärzte in Deutschland einsetzen können, Version 1.0. Spitta, Balingen
De Melo JF, Gjerdet NR, Erichsen ES (1983) Metal release from cobalt-chromium partial dentures in the mouth. Acta Odontol Scand 41:71–74
Edgar WM, O’Mullane DM (1996) Saliva and oral health, 2nd edn. British Dental Journal, London
Garhammer P, Schmalz G, Hiller KA, Reitinger T (2001) Patients with local adverse effects from dental cast alloys: frequency, complaints, symptoms, allergy. Clin Oral Investig 5:240–249
Garhammer P, Schmalz G, Hiller KA, Reitinger T (2003) Metal content of biopsies adjacent to dental cast alloys. Clin Oral Investig 7:92–97
Geurtsen W (2002) Biocompatibility of dental casting alloys. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 13:71–84
Keruso H, Moe G, Hensten-Pettersen A (1997) Salivary nickel and chromium in subjects with different types of fixed orthodontic appliances. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 111:595–598
Pfeiffer P, Schwickerath H (1990) Nickellöslichkeit von Dentallegierungen im Speichel. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z 45:492–494
Schmalz G, Garhammer P (2002) Biologic interactions of dental cast alloys with oral tissues. Dent Mater 18:396–406
Stenberg T (1982) Release of cobalt from cobalt chromium alloy constructions in the oral cavity of man. Scand J Dent Res 90:472–479
Wataha JC (2000) Biocompatibility of dental casting alloys: a review. J Prosthet Dent 83:223–234
Wirz J, Dillena P, Schmidli F (1992) Metalle im Speichel. Quintessenz 43:869–874
Wirz J, Schmidli F, Jäger K (1992) Splittertest. Quintessenz 43:1017–1023
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garhammer, P., Hiller, KA., Reitinger, T. et al. Metal content of saliva of patients with and without metal restorations. Clin Oral Invest 8, 238–242 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-004-0281-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-004-0281-4