[Contact allergies of the oral mucosa]

Patch tests were performed on 132 patients suspected of allergic sensitivity to dentures. Of these, 98 reacted positively to at least one substance. While only 4 patients showed positive reactions to methyl methacrylate, 42 (31,8%) had positive tests with the catalyst benzoyl peroxide, 4 and 5 patients, respectively, were positive to 4 different inhibitors, 7 patients reacted positively to various softeners and 3 to the reducing agent hydrazine sulfate. 43 positive reactions occurred on the commercial products, of these 39,5% on the liquid monomer, 23,2% on the polymer in powder form and 37,2% on the polymer in lamellar form. Among the 132 patients, 111 positive tests on metal allergens could be observed. Cadmium-, copper- and nickel-salts accounted for one half of all reactions. The sensitivity index of cadmium was 18,2% and of copper 13,6%, which indicates a high allergen exposition. Nickel, chrome and cobalt allergies were registered in 9,9; 8,3 and 6,1% of the patients, respectively, what is only slightly below the sensitivity indices of our standard test results in Würzburg.