Low Prevalence of Amalgam-Associated Lichenoid Lesions in the Oral Cavity: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Amalgam has been the restoration of choice for years, but its popularity has declined due to concerns about aesthetics, mercury toxicity and lichenoid lesions associated with it. Lichenoid reaction is considered to be a delayed hypersensitivity type of reaction and it has been associated with dental materials in general and amalgam in particular. Materials and Methodology: Two thousand patients having at least one amalgam restoration were examined for signs of lichenoid lesions when visiting the OPD of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics at the Nair Hospital Dental College in Mumbai, India. Indirect spatial correlation to the amalgam restoration and the same were recorded. Descriptive analysis was used. Results: Three (0.15%) out of 2000 patients with amalgam-associated lichenoid lesions showed complete resolution of lesions after the replacement of the restorations. Conclusion: Amalgam associated lichenoid lesions have a low prevalence and should not be a contraindication to its use in routine restorative dental practice. Patch tests and biopsies have questionable diagnostic and prognostic value. Identification of the lesions should be made after the elimination of all other causative factors for the presenting symptoms. A close spatial association of the lesion to amalgam and the regression of symptoms after its removal should be considered as confirming the diagnosis.

Lingual Lichenoid Lesion Due to Dental Amalgam Fillings: Case Report and Clinical Considerations

“…OLLs, described for the first time 40 years ago by Finne et al, have a low prevalence and have been diagnosed in about 0.15% of patients with at least an amalgam filling [11,12].…”

Reações alérgicas e suas manifestações na odontologia: revisão integrativa

“…O níquel é comumente encontrado em joias e piercing e há uma forte associação de pacientes sensíveis a esses acessórios com os pacientes alérgicos (Pantuzo et al, 2007, O amálgama é um metal usado para restaurar cavidades nos dentes e nos últimos anos vem sendo substituído por resinas devido a questões estéticas, a toxicidade do mercúrio e aos casos de reações alérgicas. As reações ao amálgama e os seus componentes são do tipo IV e as manifestações mais comuns são lesões liquenóides orais, lesões eritematosas e pruriginosas na mucosa oral e na pele (Syed et al, 2015;Gupta et al, 2022).…”