Frequency of galvanic pair detection of metal structures in the mouth in the absence of galvanic syndrome and pathological changes in the oral mucosa

BACKGROUND: Currently, numerous metal structures are used in dentistry, such as implants, pins, dentures, etc. These structures are often made of various metals and metal alloys with different electrochemical potentials. This circumstance can lead to the appearance of a galvanic cell, consisting of metal structures. In the existing literature, no data reveal the frequency of the detection of galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth in the absence of galvanic syndrome and oral mucosal diseases.

AIM: To examine the detection frequency of galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth in the absence of galvanic syndrome and pathological changes in the oral mucosa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey of 133 patients aged 33–87 years was conducted to detect the presence of galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth. All patients do not have galvanic syndrome and pathological changes in the oral mucosa. The patients were divided into four age groups: 33–44 years old (n = 33), 45–59 years old (n = 35), 60–74 years old (n = 35), and 75–87 years old (n = 30). Electrochemical potentials of metal structures in the mouth were determined according to the method developed at the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry of the E. V. Borovsky Institute of Dentistry of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov (Sechenov University). An electrode made of 999 gold was used as an active indicator electrode, which was used to touch metal structures in the mouth during the study. An EHP-1 silver chloride electrode was used as a passive reference electrode. A Fluke 115 multimeter was used as a measuring device.

RESULTS: In the group aged 33–44 years, galvanic pairs were found in 18%, and they had 5.2 ± 2.1 metal structures. The group aged 45–59 years had 7.4 ± 3.5 metal structures in the mouth, and 23% of the participants had galvanic vapors in the oral cavity. In the group aged 60–74 years, 26% had galvanic vapors in the oral cavity. In this group, the maximum number of metal structures in the mouth was 7.9 ± 4.1. In the group aged 75–87 years, 20% had galvanic pairs of metal structures in the mouth, and they had 5.9 ± 1.8 metal structures in the oral cavity.

CONCLUSION: Galvanic pairs of metal structures in the oral cavity were found is 18–26% of the participants in different age groups. The share is associated not so much with age but to a greater extent with the number of metal structures in the oral cavity. With the increased number of metal structures, the probability of the appearance of a galvanic pair in the mouth, formed by metal structures with different electrochemical potentials, increases.