2014 Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 295-302
Biocompatibility and resistance to biodeterioration of materials has been studied using various approaches, including the analysis of various markers of exposure, both in vitro and in vivo. The possible release of trace elements during orthodontic treatment and their potential toxicity to patients have been an increasing concern. The wide range of appliances routinely used during orthodontic treatment is typically made of alloys which may contain cobalt, chromium, iron, nickel, and titanium, of which the major concern is nickel. Nickel concentrations in humans undergoing orthodontic treatment have been assessed in many investigations, although few have specifically examined urine specimens. Urinary nickel concentrations can reflect systemic levels in whole organisms, and as a non-invasive means of study, urine analysis can easily achieve the compliance of participants and guardians. In addition, the predominant metabolic route of nickel is through the kidneys. Therefore, urinary samples are seen as a good indicator for monitoring trace metals released from orthodontic appliances. According to the literature, metal ions are released only in the initial stage of the treatment. Thus, the duration of our study was limited to the first 6 months of treatment. Since urinary nickel levels of adolescents in the initial period of fixed orthodontic treatment are being investigated and reported for the first time in this paper, the aim of our study is to quantitatively evaluate urinary nickel levels and further to summarize the dynamic metabolic regularity of systemic nickel for adolescents in the initial period of fixed orthodontic treatment.
