Stomatitis Due to Sensitization to Dental Plates

It is not generally recognized either by physicians or by dentists that an irritant stomatitis may result in susceptible person from sensitization to materials in dental plates, particularly the newer synthetic substitutes for rubber plates. Three such cases have recently come to my attention: Case1.— Mrs. T., aged 60, formerly nurse, for years had worn full upper and lower plates made of vulcanite. They had never been entirely comfortable, apparently because of poor fit, but the discomfort at most was never sufficient for her to do anything about it. Three years ago she had new plates made of substance said to be hecolite. She wore them with complete comfort for three months. Then there developed burning tongue and shortly after that peculiar salty taste accompanied by slight increase in salivation. The symptoms were always more severe at the end of the day, to improve over night when she did not wear the plates. But the condition became progressively worse, so that when she was seen in November 1935, in addition to the severe burning tongue and the salty taste she complained that the entire mouth was sore, including the gingivae, the buccal mucous membranes, the floor of the mouth and the palate. The lips felt dry and she suffered from nausea, frequent eructations and, as she expressed it, a weak feeling in the stomach. At the end of the day there would be thick glairy discharge from the mouth.