What should you do for the patient who had an allergic reaction to the RPD metal framework?

Correct answer: A. Ask the lab what alloy they used for the metal frame

• A. The FIRST step in managing a suspected metal allergy to an RPD is to identify the SPECIFIC ALLOY used by the laboratory. This allows: (1) patch testing to confirm which specific metal is the allergen, (2) consultation with the patient's physician/allergist, (3) replacement with an alternative alloy (e.g., replacing nickel-containing alloys with pure titanium or high-gold alloy).
• B. Topical steroids may temporarily relieve symptoms but do not address the ongoing allergen exposure — the source of the allergen must be identified and addressed.
• C. While the RPD may need to be remade with a different alloy, permanently refusing to provide prosthetic treatment is not appropriate.
• D. Simply masking the allergic reaction with antihistamines without identifying and addressing the allergen source is not appropriate management.