Are You Concerned About Whether You Are Allergic to a Dental Material?

Dentistry has many materials to use in the restoration of patients' teeth, and associated parts. Dental parts can be made of many different materials, and certainly some of these materials can be biocompatible with one patient, and not another. Some materials are less likely to be compatible than others. For example, gold-based alloys have historically been very biocompatible. Some patients have a dread about everything dental treatment-related, thus many patients are now also worrying about dental materials.

"Doing" is easier than "dreading."

A solution to this concern can be testing the patient for biocompatibility. We urge patients that have any question about being allergic to materials to be tested. This requires either a blood test or a computer biocompatibility test. The blood test is called a flocculating antibody test. It is performed by placing samples of your blood in test tubes containing one of the materials used in dentistry. If your blood clumps, coagulates or becomes cloudy, you are probably sensitive to the substance and better off avoiding it.

We choose materials that are most likely to be compatible, and Dr. L has performed research on materials and has published research results in national dental journals. However, if you have any question about the materials that are needed for your care, we urge you to choose to have these biocompatibility tests performed. Dr. L can refer you for these tests. Since God made 6.7 billion different people, you may have an allergy that another patient may not have.