Journal of Electrical & Electronic Systems

Electromagnetic Fields from Dental Devices and their Effects on Human Health

Abstract

Takashi Kameda and Kazuo Ohkuma

Magnetic fields can cause human health problems. Low-frequency electromagnetic fields are sometimes induced by electric currents in metallic objects that are worn or used in or on the body, and are unlike the high-frequency electromagnetic fields that produce heat. In low-frequency magnetic fields, the strength of the induced electric current is believed to be more important than the magnetic field strength in terms of effects on the health of living bodies. Electrically powered dental devices, including personal devices such as electric toothbrushes and professional devices such as curing lights for light-cured dental resins, are widely used because of their convenience, but the electric circuits and motors that power them produce low-frequency electromagnetic waves. These magnetic fields induce electric currents in teeth and in metallic appliances that are set in the oral cavity. The effects of these induced currents on human health must therefore be considered. Investigations of this issue revealed that magnetic fields from dental devices promoted the corrosion of intraoral metallic appliances via the induced currents, and this is likely to cause metallic allergies. Almost all reports on the effects of magnetic field exposure, including this corrosion phenomenon, describe harmful effects on human health. However, there may be some effective uses of the magnetic fields generated by dental devices for human health promotion. Oral bacteria were found to corrode orthodontic stainless steel appliances, but magnetic field-induced currents in these appliances could provide remarkable protection effects against this microbially induced corrosion. In this review, we discuss the results and conclusions of these investigations especially about novel ways of harmful effects and effective use of magnetic fields from dental devices, and conclude that further detailed studies are required to clarify their detailed mechanisms and to develop countermeasures for protection from or effective use of these fields.