[Experimental studies on the systemic toxicity of dental alloys free of precious metals].
The systemic toxicity of five non-precious dental alloys was evaluated by help of an animal study. The pulverized dental alloys, filled in gelatine capsules, were orally administered to laboratory rats using a special esophageal application device. For each alloy examined randomized groups of ten experimental animals and ten control animals were used. For a period of seven days the experimental animals received daily 1000 mg alloy powder per kilogram body-weight. The animals of the control groups received daily empty gelatine capsules (placebo application). After two weeks all animals were killed and autopsies of the animals were performed. Histopathologic examinations of the lungs, kidneys, liver, small intestine and large intestine of all animals were done. With statistic significance (p less than 0.001) rats whom nickel-chromium alloys were administered orally showed serious pathologic reactions more frequently than placebo-treated control animals. Nickel-chromium alloys containing beryllium and/or gallium caused the strongest organic lesions. In contrary to this a dental cobalt-chromium alloy showed a very low systemic toxicity. The results of the study underline that preclinical toxicity testing of dental alloys is necessary in order to avoid systemic toxic lesions in man.