Irritants and Allergens in Dental Materials - A Review

This review aims to develop a systematic approach for the selection of suitable and safer dental materials available in the market thereby giving an insight to predict their risk of inducing allergic reactions. The review was conducted by referring to various relevant articles and retrospective studies. It was noted that the most common allergic reactions in dental staff are allergies to latex, acrylates and formaldehyde. The other dental materials that caused irritation included impression materials, metals, resins, rubber products, amalgam restorations. The study comprehended that dental personnel have high risk of allergy from latex gloves, bio aerosols inhaled during the dental practice, contact dermatitis and from the usage of various other potentially harmful dental materials. On the other hand, the patients have high risk of irritation from commonly used dental materials like metals (gold, mercury, chromium, palladium etc), root canal sealants, obturation materials, formaldehyde, amalgam restorations, resin, acrylates, impression materials, latex and local anesthesia. Patients begin to develop symptoms of stomatitis, burning, tingling, cheilitis, oral lichenoid lesions, lip and facial swelling. The oral cavity is exposed to various sensitizing substances that cause allergic reactions. Hence it is necessary to provide comprehensive dental treatment without compromising the health of the patient.