Galvanic Corrosion — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyDental MaterialsGalvanic CorrosionORE Part 1

A 55-year-old man reports a metallic taste that began after a new gold crown was fitted next to an existing amalgam restoration. What is the most likely cause?

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Correct answer: D — Galvanic corrosion between the restorations

**A. Galvanic corrosion between the restorations** is correct. Gold and amalgam are dissimilar metals. In the electrolyte environment of saliva, contact or close coupling can produce a galvanic cell, causing an oral galvanic sensation that may be perceived as a metallic taste, particularly after introducing a new adjacent metallic restoration. An allergy to a dental alloy would more typically cause local mucosal features, such as soreness, erythema or lichenoid change, rather than an isolated immediate metallic taste. Pulpitis causes dental pain and thermal sensitivity. Zinc deficiency and xerostomia can be associated with altered taste, but neither explains the clear onset after placement of an adjacent gold crown.

Reference: Jansen van Vuuren LJ, Odendaal JS, Pistorius PC. Galvanic corrosion of dental cobalt-chromium alloys and dental amalgam in artificial saliva. SADJ. 2008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18543740/