Purpose: Considering nickel release from fixed orthodontic appliances, determination of the relationship between the clinical status of the mouth, IgE level and treatment duration in orthodontic patients seems to be advisable.
Material and methods: Twenty-one patients with symptoms of nickel hypersensitivity observed during treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances were separated from a group of 50 subjects, aged 11-33 years, undergoing orthodontic treatment for malocclusion. The patients were divided into two subgroups PgA and PgB.
Results: The mean IgE level in PgA was 39.20 IU/ml and in PgB 210.61 IU/ml. In PgA, the majority of patients were wearing ear-rings (8/10), but not in PgB (4/11). The mean treatment duration in PgA was 21.3 +/- 4.83 months, while in PgB 14.4 +/- 2.84. There were no statistically significant differences in the symptoms indicating stomatitis between the groups of patients subjected to treatment with intra-oral appliances.
Conclusions: The immunologic profile of the patient plays a key role in the choice of the type of appliance used to treat abnormalities of the masticatory organ. Determination of IgE is necessary in the case of allergy-positive history.