The Mystery of Burnt Mouth Syndrome
A 70-year old who had a dental bridge a year ago has had a burning sensation in her mouth ever since the procedure. Astrid Wilson assumed she was having an allergic reaction to one of the materials used in her bridge, but her dentist seemed unsure. She spent over 3,200 Pounds on the bridge and was left with Burning Mouth Syndrome. She claims that it feels has if she has drunk boiling water that burnt the top of her tongue. She also experiences a metallic tastes that does not go away and in fact only worsens if she talks a lot.
Her dentist referred her to another specialist, who diagnosed that Astrid was experiencing BMS, or Burning Mouth Syndrome, a mysterious condition that seems to primarily affect postmenopausal women and much worse than any form of toothache. No one knows the exact cause of the condition, and there are no known cures. Research suggests that the condition is more common than one might think and that there could be well over a million sufferers. The specialist who diagnosed Astrid referred her to a psychologist, blaming depression as one of the causes, but Astrid insists that it is linked to the dental work she had performed. She worries that the nickel or palladium in her bridge work might have been the cause; some of her other friends have gotten gold bridges instead, but Ms. Wilson was never given that option. She is understandably upset to have spent so much money only to be left with a condition that makes her life miserable.
There is very little that one can do for BMS. Ice cubes and painkillers are ineffective, nor does chewing gum or brushing one’s teeth help. Many who are afflicted by BMS blame the metals that are commonly used in dental work. Nickel can cause allergic reactions in some people, and mercury is a known toxin. Palladium is a metal which is related to platinum, and can be toxic when mixed with other metals. Switzerland and Sweden have banned mercury and palladium, respectively, from being used in dentistry, but these metals are still commonly used in the UK.
Dr. Elef Karkalis, from Germany, has concerns about palladium, stating that it may even be more toxic than mercury – which in itself is considered to be second only to plutonium in terms of general toxicity. An advisor to the BDA, or British Dental Association, found that 110 of out the 910 patients in one study were allergic to palladium. Interestingly, just over 13% of these patients were also diagnosed with Burning Mouth Syndrome.
Still, others are skeptical. Stephen Porter, for example, the director of a dental institute in London believes that the link between certain metals and BMS is inconclusive. He feels that patients who develop BMS often hear about the possible connection between dental work and the syndrome, and then blame their dental work for their burning mouth. But correlation does not equal causation, Porter believes. He admits that the continued use of amalgam fillings, which contain several different metals but no palladium, is becoming more controversial, but sees no evidence that palladium in particular is responsible for BMS.
Some dentists never give their patients amalgam fillings, preferring instead to use the composite white plastic or porcelain fillings instead. Adeline Wright is one such dentist. She believes that amalgam fillings should never be given to young children, pregnant women, or to anyone who has a bad reaction to any of the metals contained in the amalgam blend.
For some people with BMS, their only option is to have the bridgework removed. Astrid Wilson feels she has tried every other option and may eventually turn to this costly last resort. Dr. Wright recommends that people be tested for allergies before getting metal bridgework installed because 10-15% of people have bad reactions to the metals.