Nickel concentration in the saliva of patients with nickel-titanium orthodontic appliances.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine whether nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) archwires cause an increase of nickel concentration in the saliva of 18 orthodontic patients to estimate the possible risk of these archwires in patients who have nickel hypersensitivity.

METHODS

Saliva samples were collected before orthodontic treatment, after placement of the bands and brackets, 2 weeks later and before placing the Ni-Ti archwires, immediately after placing the Ni-Ti archwires, 4 weeks after placing the wires, and 8 weeks after placing the wires.

RESULTS

By using mass spectrometry, no statistically significant differences were found in the nickel concentrations in the samples taken without appliances, in those obtained 2 weeks after placement of the bands and brackets, and 4 and 8 weeks after placement of the archwires. Samples taken immediately after placement of the bands and brackets and the Ni-Ti archwires showed slight but significant increases in nickel concentration of 78 and 56 microg per liter, respectively, compared with the pretreatment value of 34 microg per liter.

CONCLUSIONS

Nickel leaching occurred after placement of the bands and brackets and after placement of the Ni-Ti archwires, associated with an increase of the nickel ion concentration in the patient's saliva. This effect decreased within 10 weeks.