An oral and psychosocial examination of patients with presumed oral galvanism.

The present investigation was performed to elucidate possible etiological factors behind the complaints reported by 62 patients referred because of presumed oral galvanism. Twenty-nine patients, matched with a subsample of the test group regarding age and sex, comprised a control group. The patients were examined regarding oral medical and stomatognathic health. Their psychological and social health and symptoms were evaluated by means of a standardised interview and 5 self-rating questionnaires. A complex symptomatology including symptoms from both the oral regions and other parts of the body constituated the most distinctive feature of the patients in the test group. The clinical examination as well as patient-perceived symptoms revealed high prevalences of parafunction and dysfunction in the muscles of the stomatognathic system. Furthermore, general complaints were mainly related to muscles of the extremities, and diseases of the joints and muscles were the most commonly reported disorder. The findings at the oral medical examination revealed no differences between the groups, except for signs of parafunction. Patients in the test group gave evidence of being more exposed to negative social events and the results clearly indicate a psychogenic component behind the reported complaints.