Location of the allergenic monomer in warm-polymerized acrylic dentures. Part I: Causes of denture sore mouth, incidence of allergy, different allergens and test methods on suspicion of allergy to denture material - a survey of the literature. Case report, allergenic analysis of denture and test casting.

In the literature dealing with causes of denture sore mouth (D.S.M.) a review is given of some possible allergenic factors in acrylic dentures and of testing procedures, as well as of the incidence of allergy. A report is presented of a patient with D.S.M., the cause of which was allergy to the denture material. Skin tests showed that the surface of the upper denture in contact with the hard palate was allergenic, but not the vestibular surface in contact with the cheeks. The lingual surfaces of the lower denture were not allergenic (the other surfaces were not investigated at this sitting). It could not be ruled out that the resin might be inhomogeneous as regards the allergenic factor. The allergenic properties were verified with test castings in the form of discs made under similar conditions to those for the palatal surface. A test casting made in the same way as the vestibular side of the upper denture showed allergenic properties before polishing. The absence of allergenic properties at this point of the denture could be explained by means of another experiment with a test casting in which the allergenic properties disappeared after polishing of the surface of the resin. The working theory was set up that both the palatal and vestibular surfaces of the denture are allergenic, but that this is eliminated by polishing of the latter. The theory was tested in Part III. It was ruled out that the impression material and insulating material could be allergenic. This study is continued in Parts II and III.