ORAL MUCOSAL DISEASES INVESTIGATED BY PATCH TESTING WITH A DENTAL SCREENING SERIES

The role of contact allergies in oral mucosal diseases was studied. Th e subjects were 24 patients out of 479 tested, who had oral mucosal sy mptoms and positive patch test reactions in a dental series during 198 7-1994 at the Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Hospital. The clinical diagnoses were oral lichen planus (LPO, 13 patients), le ukoplakia (2), glossodynia, i.e., 'burning mouth syndrome' (4), stomat itis (3) and recurrent angioedema (2). Only 1 patient had symptoms in relation to dental care. All but 2 patients had allergic reactions to mercury (Hg) (12 patients), gold sodium thiosulfate (Au) (13 patients) or both. A clinical connection between oral symptoms and contact alle rgy was seen in 10 patients. 9 patients (7 LPO, 2 leukoplakia) had Hg allergy. In these cases, the oral lesions disappeared after the amalga m fillings had been removed. 1 patient had recurrent stomatitis and pe rioral eczema after dental care and (4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropox y)phenyl)propane (BIS-GMA) allergy. Her symptoms were caused by drilli ng of acrylic fillings. In addition, a connection between localized st omatitis and contact allergy was considered probable in 2 cases. 1 pat ient had stomatitis from contact with an orthodontic device and nickel allergy. The other had stomatitis from contact with a dental gold cro wn and gold allergy. No clinical connection was found between gold all ergy and the oral symptoms of other patients.