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Galvanosis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Galvanosis is a somewhat non-standard disease in our understanding. A disease caused by the induction of galvanic currents in the oral cavity, which appear when a potential difference occurs.
Since saliva has a fairly good conductivity, small electric discharges begin to be felt in the mouth. "Battery in the mouth" is about galvanosis.
An analysis of the results of clinical studies has shown that “intolerance” to some materials of crowns and dentures is characteristic of 15% to 43% of people forced to use these services.
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Causes galvanosis
Modern orthopedic dentistry is concerned about the ever-increasing number of cases of galvanosis caused by the patient’s “individual intolerance” to the materials from which the prostheses he uses are made.
Let's take a closer look at the causes of galvanosis:
- Today, about twenty chemical elements and compounds (both metals and non-metals) are used to produce materials used to make dental prostheses. These include: stainless steel; silver-palladium alloys; cobalt-chromium compounds; materials created using platinum and gold... The elements used are iron, titanium, chromium, cobalt, nickel and others. Composite materials consisting of copper, silver, cadmium, magnesium or manganese compounds are used as the material for soldering individual parts of the prosthesis structure. Galvanosis can be caused by the body's "individual intolerance" to some of the materials.
- The presence of heterogeneous materials in the oral cavity often leads, due to the potential difference, to the emergence of galvanic currents, which are irritants and the cause of the symptoms of galvanosis.
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Symptoms galvanosis
The manifestations of this disease are caused by the emergence of complex symptoms, the cause of which were electrical microcurrents that arose in the oral cavity.
Oral galvanosis
Dentistry has made a stunning leap in its development over the last hundred years. Dental orthopedics is not standing still either. New technologies and new materials appear, which, unfortunately, do not solve the problem of "intolerance".
Metal alloys used in medicine for the production of prostheses, getting into the oral cavity of the patient, often undergo a corrosion (electromechanical) process. Remembering school chemistry lessons, you can understand what happens to any metal or alloy when it is dipped in an electrolyte solution. It receives a potential that is individual and inherent to a specific substance or compound. Chemists chose the potential of the normal hydrogen electrode as the starting point, which is equated to zero. If alloys or metals with opposite potentials (cathode, anode) are present in the oral cavity, the electric circuit is closed and the patient receives a galvanic battery in his mouth. In this case, the alloy, which has a large negative potential, begins to corrode, that is, to collapse. And if you consider that saliva is an excellent electrolyte, you can imagine what electrochemical reactions occur in the patient's oral cavity. The numerical value of microcurrents can reach 50 or even 150 mV. While the norm is considered to be a potential size not exceeding 10 mV.
The result of this reaction becomes the cause that provokes galvanosis of the oral cavity. That is, we can say that this disease is caused by the materials of the dentures.
Dentists identify the following symptoms of galvanosis:
- The appearance of an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth.
- A persistent sour taste.
- Pathology of taste receptors with impaired taste sensitivity. For example, sweet may be perceived as bitter by such a patient... Or the patient stops perceiving sweet, sour, bitter at all...
- Pathology of the salivary glands. A feeling of dryness in the oral cavity. It is caused by irritation of nerve endings, which leads to deviations in the functioning of the autonomic and central nervous systems.
- The appearance of burning and itching.
- Minor swelling on the surface of the tongue.
- The mucous membrane of the tongue surface is hyperemic.
- General physiological deviations from the norm are also noted: decreased vitality, complaints of headaches, nervous reactions to others.
- Most often, these sensations begin to appear a month or two after orthopedic treatment, the material of which was stainless steel, or repeated prosthetics, the material of which was another material or alloy (clasp prosthesis made of chromium-cobalt alloy, gold compounds or others).
- In the places of fusion, an oxide film can be observed.
Doctors distinguish two types of galvanosis: latent (or as doctors also call it atypical) and typical type of the disease.
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Forms
Atypical form of galvanosis
In this type of disease manifestation, potentiometric values exceed the indicators of a healthy person by three times, but at the same time, there are no clearly expressed symptoms of the disease. Only single symptomatic deviations may appear. The disease of this form can last for several months or several years from the moment of installation of the prosthesis until the diagnosis is established. With the confluence of certain factors, atypical galvanosis can also turn into a typical form.
The atypical form of the disease is insidious in that it is very difficult to diagnose, but without timely treatment, the patient may get an even more dangerous disease - a malignant neoplasm affecting the soft tissues of the facial-maxillary region.
Typical form of galvanosis
This type of disease manifestation is characterized by pronounced signs of galvanosis. Therefore, it is much easier to establish a diagnosis than in the case of the atypical form. If the root cause is not eliminated, the disease can last for several months or years. Since any disease is, first of all, a decrease in the body's defenses, then the appearance of concomitant diseases is often diagnosed, such as: bronchitis, acute respiratory disease, herpes and others. The danger of this disease is in possible complications. One of the most unpleasant is cancerous neoplasms.
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Diagnostics galvanosis
Today, it is not always possible to find devices in specialized clinics that allow measuring the bioelectromagnetic reactivity index (BEMR), although such devices already exist. These are laboratory pH meters, pH-340 millivoltmeters, M-24 microammeters, PP-63 and UPIP-601 potentiometers.
Diagnosis of galvanosis with the help of such a device is quite simple. With the help of this measuring device, the BEMR is measured in the area of contact of the oral mucosa with the prosthesis. The readings of the same device in a saline solution are taken as a standard. If the measured value is 30% or more higher than the control value, galvanosis is diagnosed.
If the clinic does not have such a measuring device, then the dentist must rely only on the symptoms shown and on his own experience.
In this case, the doctor prescribes a spectral analysis of saliva, which quite accurately determines the quantitative indicator of microelements (iron, chromium, etc.). In this case, a quartz spectrograph ІСП-28 is used.
In the disease under consideration, the pH indicator shifts towards increased acidity, but insignificantly. Skin tests for galvanosis are negative.
It is worth distinguishing the disease in question from glossalgia. They are quite similar in symptoms, but in the first case the patient complains of a burning sensation in the tongue area, and with glossalgia patients complain of pain in the tongue. Allergic and toxic stomatitis have quite similar symptoms, the cause of which is also the material of the prosthesis. But do not forget that with galvanosis, the main blood indicators remain unchanged, while with the above-mentioned stomatitis, leukocytosis is observed with increased ESR indicators, as well as other deviations from the norm.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Who to contact?
Treatment galvanosis
With different forms of the disease, approaches to treatment are somewhat different. Treatment of atypical galvanosis involves:
- Elimination of the root cause: removal of the prosthesis with dissonant metal. Even simple extraction of a crown made of stainless steel can give a fairly quick positive effect.
- Very often galvanosis develops on the basis of the already existing periodontium. This can lead to the progression of inflammatory processes, concomitant diseases caused by complications. In particular, to candidiasis, periostitis…
- Therefore, if necessary, they resort to surgical intervention (if a purulent abscess has developed, it must be opened and the wound treated).
Medication support
The necessary medications are prescribed by a doctor. The treatment protocol depends on the concomitant diseases that need to be treated.
If complications are caused by excessive development of pathogenic fungi, then the specialist prescribes antifungal drugs to the patient:
- For example, Fluconazole: Daily dosage – 50 ÷ 400 mg. The amount is determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease. The drug is taken once a day. The drug is contraindicated for people with individual intolerance to azole compounds.
Along with fluconazole, terfenadian is also prescribed. It is able to prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions.
- Terfenadian: The maximum daily dose of this drug is 480 mg. It is well absorbed by the gastrointestinal mucosa. This drug can be prescribed even to patients whose work requires increased concentration. The exception is the work of a driver of a vehicle. This drug is also contraindicated in patients with a history of severe liver disease.
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General strengthening therapy
The doctor must prescribe immunostimulants to the patient.
- Tincture of lemongrass: This tincture can be purchased at a pharmacy, or prepared at home.
- Take it twice a day: the first time on an empty stomach in the morning, the next time before lunch, 20-30 drops, and if necessary, increase to 40 drops.
You can prepare it at home as follows:
- Take 20 dried or fresh Schisandra berries, pour them into a dark bottle and add 100 ml of 96% alcohol. Close carefully.
- Keep in a dark place for about two weeks. Then strain, squeeze the berries and put them back into the tincture.
- Let stand for three days. Strain again.
- The composition is ready for use.
- It must be stored in a cool and dark place.
- Treatment for at least a month.
Tincture of Eleutherococcus extract: This preparation is used twice a day in the first half of the day, half an hour before meals, 20-40 drops. The course of treatment is carried out for at least three weeks.
If there is a need for treatment of a typical form of galvanosis:
- As in the first case, the root cause must first be eliminated.
- Drug treatment. Therapy of inflammatory processes, other complications. If necessary, resort to surgical treatment.
For example: A patient is prescribed norsulfazole if the causative agent of the inflammatory process is a staphylococcal or streptococcal infection. The drug is well absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and is quickly excreted from the body. 2 g is used at a time (the maximum daily dosage should not exceed 7 g). It is better to wash down this medicine with a soda solution (1/2 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate per glass of water), or a glass of Borjomi.
If galvanosis is accompanied by ulcerative stomatitis, the doctor may prescribe Ingalipt to the patient. It is available in the form of an aerosol. An excellent antiseptic, anti-inflammatory drug. It contains both norsulfazole and streptocide, and thymol, oil additives of eucalyptus and mint... Irrigation of the oral cavity is carried out for 1-2 seconds 3-4 times throughout the day. A contraindication to its use may be the patient's intolerance to the oils and sulfonamides included in the drug.
All treatment is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor. If any of the prescribed drugs does not suit the patient, the doctor will replace it with another or adjust the dosage.
Maintaining the immune system
To stimulate the body's defenses, the patient receives prodignozan. This polysaccharide drug works well for both chronic and acute inflammatory processes. Before prescribing a course of treatment, the patient is tested for tolerance. Adults intramuscularly - 15 mcg of the drug. If the test shows a normal reaction of the body to the drugs, treatment begins. Injections are administered intramuscularly, 1-2 times a day. The dosage is 25-30 mcg, in severe manifestations of the disease, the doctor can increase the dosage to 50-100 mcg. It is determined individually for each patient. The usual course is no more than six injections. Contraindications to the use of this medication include diseases of the cardiovascular or central nervous system.
Pyrogenal. This drug is administered both intravenously and intramuscularly. The dose is strictly individual. One injection is given every two to three days. The dosage is increased stepwise: first – 25 to 50 MPD, then increased until the temperature starts to rise (up to 38°C). This dose is continued until the temperature stops rising. The dosage is increased again by 25 to 50 MPD. The maximum daily dose is 100 MPD (for adults). The standard course is up to 30 injections.
Therapy for somatic deviations in the patient
In this case, you can get by with simple sedative herbal tinctures (motherwort, valerian, etc.), or preparations based on them.
- Novo-Passit. Sedative phyto preparation. For adults, the dosage is 5 ml of suspension or 1 tablet three times a day, but not more often than every 4-6 hours. If the drug causes nausea, it is recommended to take it with food. Contraindications are only hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. Do not use with alcohol.
Prevention
Prevention of galvanosis comes down to following all the rules and regulations for sterilizing the material, instrument and the prosthesis itself before fixing the prosthesis in place in the oral cavity.
- It is also necessary for the dentist to exclude the production of prostheses from stainless steel (either with or without titanium nitride coating) and structures with long bridges.
- Minimize the combination of different metals, especially for patients with a weak immune system.
- Use of materials that match each other.
- Implementation of the latest technologies and alloys (metal ceramics, clasp dentures...).
- Hygiene of using a prosthesis.
- Individual approach to patients at risk. This group for galvanosis includes: elderly people; patients suffering from various diseases of the central nervous system; patients with a history of surgery for tumors of the maxillofacial region.
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Forecast
If the disease is not neglected and is recognized at an early stage, high-quality, effective treatment is carried out, then the prognosis of galvanosis is definitely positive. Otherwise, this disease is dangerous not in itself, but because of the complications that can develop - up to cancer of soft tissues in the maxillofacial area.
First of all, a person should be responsible for his own health. If you are one of those who belong to the risk group, then pay more attention to the hygiene of the installed prosthesis (directly oral hygiene, timely replacement of the structure with a new prosthesis). And also, even with minor discomfort in the oral cavity, immediately sign up for an examination and consultation with a dentist. Then galvanosis will not cause even greater health problems. Treat your body more carefully and attentively, be healthy and happy!