Amalgam tattoo

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's medical weight loss NYC, sleep center NYC
Philadelphia medical weight loss and Philadelphia sleep clinics

Amalgam tattoo
Synonyms	Focal argyrosis
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Blue, black, or gray discoloration of the oral mucosa
Complications	None
Onset	After dental procedures involving amalgam
Duration	Permanent
Types	N/A
Causes	Implantation of dental amalgam into oral tissues
Risks	Dental procedures, especially fillings
Diagnosis	Clinical examination, X-ray
Differential diagnosis	Melanoma, nevus, Kaposi's sarcoma
Prevention	Careful handling of amalgam during dental procedures
Treatment	None required, but can be removed surgically for cosmetic reasons
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Benign
Frequency	Common
Deaths	N/A

Amalgam Tattoo

An amalgam tattoo is a common oral lesion that occurs when dental amalgam particles become embedded in the soft tissues of the mouth. This condition is also known as a "focal argyrosis." Amalgam tattoos are typically benign and do not require treatment, but they can be mistaken for other pigmented lesions, such as melanoma.

Etiology

Amalgam tattoos occur when small particles of dental amalgam are inadvertently implanted into the oral mucosa during dental procedures. This can happen during the placement or removal of amalgam fillings. The amalgam particles contain silver, mercury, tin, and other metals, which can cause a localized discoloration of the tissue.

Clinical Presentation

Amalgam tattoos appear as blue, gray, or black macules on the oral mucosa. They are most commonly found on the gingiva, buccal mucosa, and alveolar mucosa. The lesions are usually asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally during routine dental examinations.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of an amalgam tattoo is primarily clinical, based on the appearance of the lesion and the patient's dental history. A biopsy may be performed if there is any doubt about the diagnosis, especially to rule out other pigmented lesions such as melanocytic nevus or oral melanoma. Histological examination will reveal darkly pigmented granules within the connective tissue, consistent with amalgam particles.

Differential Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for an amalgam tattoo includes:

• Melanotic macule
• Melanocytic nevus
• Oral melanoma
• Graphite tattoo
• Kaposi's sarcoma

Management

Amalgam tattoos are benign and do not require treatment. However, if the lesion is cosmetically concerning or if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, surgical removal may be considered. It is important to reassure patients about the benign nature of the lesion.

Gallery

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  Amalgam tattoo
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  Amalgam tattoo
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  Amalgam tattoo

Related Pages

• Dental amalgam
• Oral mucosa
• Melanoma
• Biopsy