A case in which symptoms were improved by dental treatment for a patient suffering from systemic dermatitis as a main complaint

Abstract

Due to change in living circumstances, sanitary conditions, diet, quality of water, soil- and air-environment, increase of allergy patients has become a societal issue in the developed countries, including our country. The allergic reaction is an excessive immunoreaction to certain antigenic agents and a necessary physiological function to keep foreign bodies (antigens) away. Among various causes and pathogeneses of allergies, metal allergies related to dental treatment (iatrogenic) have attracted attention in recent years. While prosthetic materials in dentistry have been shifting to the non-metal, there still remain many patients with dental-related allergosis due to the long history of metal-material dependent restorations. Presented in this report is a case of a patient with ongoing systemic dermatitis, diagnosed as metallic allergy with patch skin test by a dermatologist in university hospital. Intraoral findings included metal restorations in multiple teeth. The patientʼs dermatological symptom was observed by the dermatologist in conjunction with dental treatment replacing metal restorations. About one year from the onset of treatment, improvement of the skin condition was observed, and prosthetic treatment also resulted in recovery of occlusal function.