title: Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by exposure to acrylates during work with dental prostheses.
abstract: Between 1974 and 1992, we were consulted by 4 patients (an orthodontist, 2 dental technicians and a dental worker trained in-house) who had developed occupational allergic contact dermatitis from working with dental prostheses. All patients had positive allergic patch test reactions to methyl methacrylate (MMA), the acrylate which is the most widely used in work with prostheses. All but the orthodontist also reacted to dimethacrylates, which are used in cross-linked dental prostheses. The last patient, investigated in 1992, had been exposed mainly to light-cured acrylics, which are similar in composition to dental composite resins. These acrylics, only recently introduced into prosthetic work, contain more potent acrylic sensitizers than MMA. Accordingly, dental personnel working with prostheses may face a higher risk of sensitization than previously. To detect cases of occupational allergic contact dermatitis, we suggest that patients working with dental prostheses should be patch tested with MMA, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, dimethacrylates, epoxy acrylates and urethane acrylates.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kanerva
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Estlander
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jolanki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tarvainen
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003800:Dental Technicians; D003813:Dentistry; D003815:Dentists; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins