Research abstract
British Dental Journal 196, 471 - 477 (2004)
Published online: 24 April 2004 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4811176
The national survey of adverse reactions to dental materials in the UK: a preliminary study by the UK Adverse Reactions Reporting Project
A Scott1, W Egner2, D J Gawkrodger3, P V Hatton4, M Sherriff5, R van Noort6, C Yeoman7 & J Grummitt8
- The Adverse Reactions Reporting Project for dental materials has shown that adverse reactions to dental materials occur across the UK and that these involve both dental professionals and patients.
- Nobody is immune from the possibility of experiencing an adverse reaction to a dental material. Although the number of cases reported so far may be small, there is a need to continue to raise the awareness among dental professionals of the existence of the Adverse Reactions Reporting Project so as to overcome problems of under-reporting.
- It is only with the full support of dental practitioners that we can build up a true picture of the extent and severity of adverse reactions to dental materials.
- The project would allow us over time to show trends and thus develop an early warning system as regards any materials that present with the high incidence of adverse reactions. For example, an early warning system may have detected problems with the wearing of powdered latex gloves at a much earlier stage.
Abstract
Objective: Dental treatment involves the use of a wide range of materials. Many of the dental materials or their components pose a potential risk to the patient and member of the dental team. Pre-market biocompatibility testing cannot guarantee absolute safety, making monitoring of materials likely to cause an adverse reaction essential. The prevalence of adverse reactions to dental materials amongst dental patients and staff has not been systematically monitored in the UK. This project aims to develop a systematic approach to the evaluation and monitoring of the extent and severity of adverse reactions to dental materials in the UK.
Method: Through the distribution of reporting forms to dental surgeries and laboratories in the UK, the ARRP has received 1,075 complete reports relating to adverse reactions seen or experienced by dental staff and patients.
Results: The main findings were that different materials cause adverse reactions to different groups of people. The largest proportion of patient related adverse reactions were reported to be due to metals (n = 175). These were mainly amalgam associated oral lichenoid reactions (n = 124). Dental technicians reported acrylic resin as the causal factor of hand dermatitis in 61% (44 out of a total 72) of cases reported. Finally, dental surgery staff reported gloves as causing hand dermatitis in 75% of cases (398 out of a total 531).
Conclusions: Different dental materials affect different person groups depending on their exposure to the material. Dental staff are most at risk from an adverse reaction to latex gloves, whereas most reported reactions for patients were due to metals. For dental technicians the biggest danger of an adverse reaction was from acrylic resins. There is a need to continue to raise the awareness among dental professionals of the existence of the Adverse Reactions Reporting Project so as to overcome problems of under-reporting.
- Research Assistant, Department of Adult Dental Care, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA
- Consultant in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Northern General Hospital, PO Box 894, Sheffield S5 7YT
- Consultant in Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF
- Professor of Biomaterials, Department of Adult Dental Care, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA
- Senior Lecturer of Dental Biomaterials, GKT Dental Biomaterials, Kings College London, Floor 17 Guys Tower, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT
- Professor in Dental Materials, Department of Adult Dental Care, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA
- Consultant in Oral Medicine, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, CCDH, Wellesley Road, Sheffield S10 2SZ
- GDP, Compton Acres Dental Practice, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7RS
Correspondence to: R van Noort6 e-mail: r.vannoort@sheffield.ac.uk