Dental Materials Journal
Online ISSN : 1881-1361
Print ISSN : 0287-4547
ISSN-L : 0287-4547
Original papers
Metallic Pigmentation of Human Teeth and Gingiva: Morphological and Immunological Aspects
Zora VENCLÍKOVÁOldrich BENADAJirina BÁRTOVÁLudek JOSKALubor MRKLAS
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2007 Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 96-104

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Abstract

The composition of metallic pigmentations in gingiva and dental roots was determined by means of transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis. The systemic immune response to the metals found in the oral cavity was evaluated in 10 patients by using a modified lymphocyte proliferation test. Immunological results were compared with a group of five controls without metallic materials and pigmentation. Dense particles of various shapes and sizes, as well as of diverse extracellular and intracellular localization patterns, were detected in the pigmented lamina propria gingivae. Metallic deposits consisted predominantly of silver accompanied by selenium or sulfur or both. Besides, Ag, Au, Cr, Ni, Fe, Hg, Cu, and Ti were identified in dentinal tubules of teeth reconstructed with dental alloys. Nine patients with metallic pigmentations had a positive lymphocyte proliferative response to one or more metals present in their own metal reconstructions. Results of this study thus indicated that dental alloys—by virtue of their corrosion process—might pose a significant risk to immunologically susceptible patients.

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© 2007 The Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices
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