[Solubility of nickel from dental alloys in saliva]

Dental students in the clinical courses of prosthodontics manufactured maxillary cast partial dentures from 6 nickel-containing alloys according to set guidelines. Prior to insertion as well as up to 7 days after insertion resting saliva samples were collected and analyzed for their nickel contents with the aid of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) using a graphite tube. 20 min after insertion the salivary nickel levels were above the blank value. After 3 h the salivary nickel levels were as half as high compared to values of 20 min. After 7 days for most alloys they decreased to the starting values again.