S. Minagi et al., In situ microsampling technique for identification of elements of a restoration with exposed metal to identify potential allergens, J PROS DENT, 82(2), 1999, pp. 221-225
Statement of problem. For clinical investigations of allergic reactions to
dental materials, it is necessary to know the type of metal used in restora
tions in the mouth of the patient. However, an intraoral method of sampling
the dental alloy without removing the metal restoration has not yet been e
stablished.
Purpose. This study attempted to establish a clinically serviceable method
for microsampling dental alloy.
Material and methods. A piece of silicone sampling tube is held on the surf
ace of the metal restoration. This surface was ground with a carbide bur th
rough the sampling tube, and the ground metal particles were then recovered
from the inner surface of the tube. The recovered sample was subjected to
energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis. The percentage recovery of ground al
loy by this microsampling method, which was the ratio of the recovered weig
ht of metal to the total weight of the metal ground, was evaluated using 3
mm diameter x 1 mm thick disk-shaped specimens of Ag-Au-Pd and Ni-Cr alloys
.
Results. Elemental analysis of the retrieved alloys identified the componen
t elements in the alloy compositions. The percentage recovery by this micro
sampling method was 75.0% for Ag-Au-Pd alloy and 69.9% for Ni-Cr alloy, res
pectively
Conclusions. The microsampling method demonstrated a relatively high percen
tage recovery of the ground alloy particles. This microsampling method woul
d be of great benefit clinically to patients who have allergic reactions to
dental materials.