Clinical evaluation of patients referred with symptoms related to oral galvanism

Sixty-eight consecutive patients (9 males, 59 females) referred for symptoms alleged to be caused by oral galvanism were investigated according to a standardized examination program including clinical examination, epicutaneous patch test with dental materials, haematologic screening, salivary test, calculation of currents created at metallic contacts between restorative materials and testing of electrical taste thresholds. No clinical entity could be identified but recognized clinical conditions that could possibly explain the complaints for which the patients were referred were prevalent. The most common symptoms reported were a smarting sensation in the mouth (71%) and different distant symptoms (47%). As regards oral signs, some of them showed similar prevalences as have been found in a general Swedish population. The main exception was changes at the apex of the tongue - found in 15%. Allergic skin reactions to dental materials were found among 25% of the patients. Mean values of blood and saliva parameters did not differ from what is considered normal. The distribution of currents created by contacting dental metallic restorations showed no deviation from the corresponding currents calculated in a control group. The median value for lowest electrical taste threshold in the group of referred patients was significantly lower than in a control group.