Unexpected inorganic elements in oral lesions: results of X-ray energy spectroscopy (XES) on particulate matter in paraffin sections.

X-ray energy spectroscopy (XES) of all particulate matter found by light microscopy in histological sections of 222 oral lesions revealed a much wider range of elements than expected from dental amalgam. Subsequent XES of a variety of endodontic materials, impression materials and toothpastes indicated possible sources for virtually all elements identified in the histopathological lesions. The range of materials identified is tabulated; histopathological lesions and probable source substances are correlated; light microscopic pointers to the elemental nature of particulate matter in sections are indicated--titanium and bismuth have characteristic appearances; possible implications of local implantation and large scale ingestion of such substances are discussed.