Abstract
Polyether impression materials have been used in dentistry for more than 40 years. Allergic reactions to these materials such as reported in the 1970s ceased after replacement of a catalyst. Very recently, however, patients have started to report symptoms that suggest a new allergic reaction from polyether impression materials. Here, we report on the results of allergy testing with polyether impression materials as well as with its components. Eight patients with clinical symptoms of a contact allergy (swelling, redness or blisters) after exposure to a polyether impression material were subjected to patch tests, two of them additionally to a prick test. A further patient with atypical symptoms of an allergy (nausea and vomiting after contact with a polyether impression material in the oral cavity) but with a history of other allergic reaction was also patch tested. The prick tests showed no immediate reactions in the two patients tested. In the patch tests, all eight patients with typical clinical symptoms showed positive reactions to the mixed polyether impression materials, to the base paste or to a base paste component. The patient with the atypical clinical symptoms did not show any positive patch test reactions. Polyether impression materials may evoke type IV allergic reactions. The causative agent was a component of the base paste. In consideration of the widespread use of this impression material (millions of applications per year) and in comparison to the number of adverse reactions from other dental materials, the number of such allergic reactions is very low. In very scarce cases, positive allergic reactions to polyether impression materials are possible.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Schmalz G, Arenholt-Bindslev D (2005) Biokompatibilität zahnärztlicher Werkstoffe. Elsevier, München
Gangemi S, Spagnolo EV, Cardia G, Minciullo PL (2009) Fatal anaphylactic shock due to a dental impression material. Int J Prosthodont 22:33–34
Batchelor JM, Todd PM (2010) Allergic contact stomatitis caused by a polyether dental impression material. Contact Dermat 63:296–297. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2010.01804.x
Dahl BL (1978) Tissue hypersensitivity to dental materials. J Oral Rehabil 5:117–120
Dahl BL, Hensten-Pettersen A, Lyberg T (1990) Assessment of adverse reactions to prosthodontic materials. J Oral Rehabil 17:279–286
Fisher AA (1985) Allergic stomatitis from dental impression compounds. Cutis 36:295–296
Van Groeningen G, Nater JP (1975) Reactions to dental impression materials. Contact Dermat 1:373–376
Beltrani VS, Bernstein IL, Cohen DE, Fonacier L (2006) Contact dermatitis: a practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 97(3, suppl 2):1–38
Bourke J, Coulson I, English J (2001) Guidelines for care of contact dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 145:877–885
Bruze M, Conde-Salzar L, Goossens A, Kanerva L, White IR (1999) Thoughts on sensitizers in a standard patch test series. Eur Soc Contact Dermat 41:241–250
Korting HC, Sterry W (1997) Diagnostische Verfahren in der Dermatologie. Blackwell, Berlin
Meth MJ, Maibach HI (2006) Current understanding of contrast media reactions and implications for clinical management. Drug Saf 29:133–141
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfMAUDE/search.CFM, product code: elw
Acknowledgements
The authors thank 3M ESPE (Seefeld, Germany) for providing the materials for allergy testing and for sponsoring the report.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest for this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mittermüller, P., Szeimies, RM., Landthaler, M. et al. A rare allergy to a polyether dental impression material. Clin Oral Invest 16, 1111–1116 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-011-0618-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-011-0618-8