title: Salivary metal levels of orthodontic patients: a novel methodological and analytical approach.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the nickel, chromium, and ferrous levels in a population of 17 orthodontic patients undergoing treatment, compared with seven untreated individuals, employing a novel methodological approach and a new analytical technique. Salivary samples obtained from patients before and after rinsing with double distilled water were processed for Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) for simultaneous estimation of the concentration of the metallic elements. No statistically significant difference was detected between control and patient groups with respect to salivary metal content, regardless of element. The range of salivary metal levels found did not exceed those of daily intake through food and air. The lack of a continuous monitoring scheme for salivary metal concentrations in real time may impose substantial obstacles to defining the release rate of metals in vivo. The results of this study emphasize the necessity of incorporating the dimension of time in assessing the release potential of orthodontic alloys.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Science Unit, University of Manchester, Dental School, UK.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eliades
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trapalis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eliades
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katsavrias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D058085:Iron Compounds; D008670:Metals; D002857:Chromium; D013193:Stainless Steel; D009532:Nickel