Clinical application of energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis for nondestructively confirming dental metal allergens

Dental metal restorations contain and release allergens that cause metal allergy. Until now it has been a general treatment for dental metal allergy to remove all suspected metal restorations without confirming their chemical composition. This study describes the procedures to examine nondestructively the chemical composition of metal restorations by the use of an energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis system. The present results indicate that this new application of energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis could identify the dental metal restorations that contain elements positive in skin tests for the patient in whom a metal allergy is suspected and that the potential for the clinical use of energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis exists.