Galvanic action: a case report.

The presence of two dissimilar metals in the mouth acting as electrodes, with saliva serving as an electrolyte, can generate an intraoral electric current known as galvanic action. The result of these circuits is usually a transient, unpleasant feeling in the mouth, but occasionally other tissues in the body can be affected. This article presents a report of a patient with a presumable galvanic action that began with the insertion of orthodontic appliances and developed into a serious, debilitating illness.