Contact sensitization to metals in dental exposures in Bulgaria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of contact sensitization to metals used in dental practice among students of dental medicine, students from a dental technician school, dental professionals and patients. A total of 128 participants: 28 dental professionals, 40 students of dental medicine, 38 students from a dental technician school and 22 patients without occupational exposure to metals, were patch tested with potassium dichromate, cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate, copper(II)sulfate pentahydrate, palladium(II)chloride, aluminium(III)chloride hexahydrate, gold(I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate, tin and nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate. The main metal allergens for students of dental medicine were cobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, gold(I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate, nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate and potassium dichromate; for students from the dental technician schoolcobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate and gold (I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate; for dental professionalscobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, palladium (II)chloride and nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate, and for dental patientscobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate and copper(II)sulfate pentahydrate. There was a significantly higher incidence of sensitization to potassium dichromate (x 2 = 10.497, p = 0.012), palladium(II)chloride (x 2 = 5.381, p = 0.02) and gold(I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate (x 2 = 6.347, p = 0.018) in the group of students of dental medicine. Our findings confirm the importance of cobalt (II)chloride hexahydrate as contact sensitizer for all the studied groups. Students of dental medicine could be defined as a group of particular risk of contact sensitization with metals. We recommend that knowledge on the sensitizing properties of metals be provided at the very beginning of the course of practical education in dentistry, together with application of adequate preventive measures.

Fabrication of robust silver plated conductive polyamide fibres based on tannic acid modification

“…Different from the conventional sensitization of fibres using stannous chloride, 23 the fibre sensitization in this study was carried out by oxidative grafting of tannic acid on the fibre surface. After grafting of tannic acid on the fibre surface, a highly adhesive film can be established on the polyamide fibre surface to facilitate the subsequent reaction.…”

Kontaktallergien – Neu aufkommende Allergene und Auswirkungen für das Gesundheitswesen

“…Epikutantests auf Gold werden oft mit Gold-Natriumthiosulfat durchgeführt und ergeben (i) positive Testreaktionen bei einer beträchtlichen Anzahl von Patienten und (ii) verzögert auftretende Reaktionen, die entweder eine aktive Sensibilisierung oder einen geringen Grad der Sensibilisierung/Reaktivität widerspiegeln können [60, 61]. Einer bulgarischen Studie zufolge unterliegt zahnmedizinisches Fachpersonal (Ärzte, Techniker und Studierende) möglicherweise einem erhöhten Risiko für eine Sensibilisierung gegen Gold, Palladium und andere für Kronen verwendete Metalle [62].…”

Contact Allergy—Emerging Allergens and Public Health Impact

“…Patch testing to gold is often performed with gold sodium thiosulfate, yielding (i) positive test reactions in a considerable number of patients, and (ii) late-appearing reactions which may either represent active sensitisation or a low degree of sensitisation/reactivity [60,61]. According to a Bulgarian study, dental professionals (students, doctors and technicians) may have an increased risk of sensitisation to gold, palladium and other metals used for crowns [62].…”