Oral galvanism is claimed to occur when two or more dissimilar metals in dental restorations which are bathed in saliva, or a single metal in contact with two electrolytes such as saliva and pulp fluid tissue, produce an electric current. when associated with pain, the term galvanic pain is used.
The hypothesized electric current is claimed to cause a variety of immediate symptoms in some people, such as oral discomfort, skin irritation, headaches and a metallic taste in the mouth. The galvanism can affect immune levels and the trigeminal nerve, causing a variety of other symptoms, such as insomnia, vertigo, and memory loss. The condition is idiopathic, depending on the individual’s state of health. It has varying effects on oral microbial communities. It was first proposed in 1878. Oral galvanism can usually be reduced or eliminated by replacing metallic amalgam restorations with ceramic or polymer restorations.