Oral galvanic action after treatment with extensive metallic restorations

An epidemiological study was performed in 250 persons who five years previously had been treated with extensive metallic reconstructions. To gain representative information these persons were selected at random from three Local Social Insurance Offices in different parts of Sweden. Those person, who in a questionnaire reported symptoms that could be alleged to have been caused by oral galvanic actions, were offered free clinical examination including quality evaluation and free measurements of potentials and polarizations of the metallic dental restorations. Persons from a subgroup to this study not suffering from any oral discomforts were chosen as a control group. Comparisons between the two groups were made in regard to current creation at metallic contacts, clinical quality and mucosal conditions. In none of the statistical analyses performed, differences could be shown between the groups. A tendency to higher amounts of restorative care at comparatively lower level of technical quality could, however, be noticed in the group of persons with oral symptoms which they themselves associated with oral galvanism.