Galvanism
Pronunciation: GAL-vah-niz-um
The generation of an electrical current in the oral environment caused by the contact of dissimilar metals in the presence of saliva acting as an electrolyte, potentially causing sensitivity or corrosion.
Full Definition
Oral galvanism occurs when two or more metallic restorations of different electrochemical potential come into contact directly or via a conducting medium such as saliva. The resulting galvanic cell can produce microampere-level currents that patients may perceive as sharp pain, metallic taste, or burning sensation. In dental materials editing, 'galvanism' refers specifically to the electrochemical phenomenon, and authors should not use it to describe simple metal corrosion without a galvanic component. Editors must also ensure authors distinguish between galvanic corrosion and general oral corrosion.
Usage
Usage note: Restrict 'galvanism' to contexts involving dissimilar metals and an electrolyte. General metal degradation in the mouth should be described as 'corrosion' or 'tarnishing', not 'galvanism'.
In Context
- "The patient reported a metallic taste following placement of a gold crown adjacent to an existing amalgam restoration, raising suspicion of oral galvanism." — Case report
- "Galvanism between the base-metal alloy bridge and the amalgam filling was confirmed by measuring the galvanic current with a microvoltmeter." — Research article