Amalgam Tattoo - A Review

Kuzhalvaimozhi P.; Delphine Priscilla Antony; Dhanraj Ganapathy

doi:10.61841/ag868987

Authors

Kuzhalvaimozhi P. Undergraduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India Author
Delphine Priscilla Antony Department of Conservative Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences, Chennai – 600077 Tamil Nadu, India Author
Dhanraj Ganapathy Professor and Head Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences, Chennai – 600077 Tamil Nadu, India Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61841/ag868987

Keywords:

Amalgam, tattoo, discoloration

Abstract

Amalgam is one of the most versatile materials used in dentistry and used as a restorative material for past 150 years. Amalgam has various constituents such as silver, tin, zinc and mercury-a toxic constituent. It produces harmful effects in the body, by passing through cell membrane, cross blood brain barrier and enters central nervous system and cause immunological and psychological problems. Amalgam tattoo results from inadvertent deposition of amalgam within oral mucosa and alveolar bone during dental procedures. Overtime, metallic particles from dental amalgam leach into soft tissue causing discoloration.

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