title: [Metal intolerance. A frequent condition, but difficult to diagnose].
abstract: Many of the methods and devices used for incompatibility testing of metals and alloys today are of questionable scientific value. Neither epicutaneous testing nor other diagnostic adjuncts from the realm of alternative medicine, nor patient-history data contained in so-called dental alloy passports, are generally able to yield any useful information. Analysis is particularly difficulty in situations where metallic components are cemented in place in the oral cavity. For many years now, the so-called splinter test has proven its value as a means of non-destructively identifying the type of alloy used. It can also be used for detecting persistent corrosion-prone adhesive oxides and soldering joints as causative agents of metal-related noxious processes. This article presents a number of case reports to demonstrate the reliability and the precision of the splinter test. Over a period of 10 years, more than 1600 splinter analyses have been performed at the University of Basle Center of Dentistry. According to a pertinent survey, these analyses were able to contribute to full treatment success in 63% of the cases, to partial success in 27% of the cases, and to no success in only 10% of the cases.
authors.affiliation: Institut für zahnärztliche Werkstoffwissenschaft, Technologie und Propädeutik, Zentrum für Zahnmedizin, Universität Basel.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wirz
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmidli
authors.forename: Michele Giorgio
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Petrini
mesh_terms: D003343:Corrosion; D003442:Crowns / Q000009:adverse effects; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D003778:Dentures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004570:Electrogalvanism, Intraoral; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D008670:Metals
vernacular_title: Metall-Unverträglichkeit. Eine häufige Erkrankung, aber schwierig zu diagnostizieren.