Metal allergy : Gold

Gold is today a well-known but still controversial contact sensitizer. The patch test reaction to gold is sometimes difficult to read, and positive reactions typically appear late; therefore, two readings are of utmost importance. Gold is not generally within the baseline series but is recommended in any dental and metal series. Gold can give rise not only to local eczematous reactions, chronic papular reactions, or generalized dermatitis, but also to lichenoid reactions, especially when in contact with the oral mucosa. The sensitizer can also give rise to systemic allergic contact dermatitis when exposure is systemic. Female sex, dental gold restorations and age are factors that are associated with contact allergy to gold

Contact Allergy to Dental Materials and Implants

Dental professionals and dental patients are exposed to the same sensitizers, but the outcome is very different. Dental professionals suffer predominantly from irritant contact dermatitis and to a lesser degree from allergic contact dermatitis to acrylates and rubber products. Dental patients rarely have allergic contact stomatitis. In this chapter, the reader will learn about the multiple factors that lead to irritant contact dermatitis and also about the major sensitizers, e.g., methacrylates in dentin bonding agents, dental composite resins (DCR), and prostheses, in addition to rubber chemicals, metals, fragrances, and disinfectants. The various sensitizers that may give lichenoid reactions in patients are also discussed