Prevalence of nickel allergy and longitudinal evaluation of periodontal abnormalities in orthodontic allergic patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of nickel allergy in a sample of orthodontic patients andlongitudinally compare the clinical periodontal status of these individuals with that of a group ofnonallergic patients.Materials and Methods: The initial sample consisted of 96 patients selected randomly from a databank of patients who sought orthodontic care at a teaching institution. Following the selection andbeginning of treatment, periodontal status was assessed over a 12-month period (one evaluationevery 3 months-T1, T2, T3, T4) using the Loe index. The evaluations were performed blindly by asingle, calibrated examiner and were followed by prophylaxis and orientation regarding oral hygiene.The prevalence of nickel allergy was determined by the patch test 9 months after the beginning oftreatment and occurred in 16 individuals (17.2%). Two groups were then established: the allergicgroup (AG, n = 16) and the age-paired nonallergic control group (NAG, n= 16). Data were analyzedusing the Mann-Whitney U-test and Friedman's analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests (P.05).Conclusions: The results suggest a cumulative effect from nickel throughout orthodontic treatmentassociated with clinically significant periodontal abnormalities in allergic individuals over time.(Angle Orthod. 2009;79:922-927. © 2009 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc.