title: Allergies to dental materials.
abstract: Allergies related to dentistry generally constitute delayed hypersensitive reactions to specific dental materials. Although true allergic hypersensitivity to dental materials is rare, certain products have definite allergenic properties. Extensive reports in the literature substantiate that certain materials cause allergies in patients, who exhibit mucosal and skin symptoms. Currently, however, neither substantial data nor clinical experience unequivocally contraindicate the discontinuance of any of the materials, which include dental amalgam and nickel- and chromium-containing metals. The dentist forms a vital link in the team approach to the differential diagnosis of allergenic biomaterials that elicit symptoms in a patient, not only intraorally, but also on unrelated parts of the body.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Dentistry, South Africa.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wiltshire
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ligthelm
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000009:adverse effects; D002858:Chromium Alloys / Q000009:adverse effects; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000009:adverse effects; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects; D003760:Dental Impression Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D010984:Platinum / Q000009:adverse effects; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D003188:Composite Resins; D003760:Dental Impression Materials; D003764:Dental Materials; D006047:Gold Alloys; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; D010984:Platinum; D009532:Nickel; D003723:Dental Amalgam