Clinical findings in patients with orofacial discomfort complaints.

In 113 patients with orofacial and general complaints, which they assumed were caused by galvanic currents and/or metallic restorations, clinical dental and medical examinations were performed. Most of the patients had natural teeth with dental metallic restorations. A number of dental diagnoses, such as caries, pulpitis, periapical osteitis and periodontitis, were found. However, 16% were edentulous in one or both jaws and had complete dentures. 69% had possible metal contacts. Some oral mucosal changes were observed, but they were as frequent in patients without as in those with metal contact possibility. Signs of parafunctions and functional disturbances of the masticatory system were extremely frequent. A careful oral examination in these patients thus revealed many clinical dental and oral signs that could be more-or-less related to the complaints. Because of the extremely varying symptoms reported, however, only a small proportion could be fully explained by odontological and/or medical diagnoses, and in 38% of the patients, no clear odontological diagnosis was found that could explain the complaints.