Poligrip-Fixodent Denture Cream Investigation: Zinc Poisoning

Denture Cream Misdiagnosis

Copper deficiency and excess amounts of zinc in the body due to denture cream use can cause the deterioration of the myelin sheath covering the nerve cells. This leads to neuropathy and other neurological problems. Because the link between denture adhesive cream and zinc poisoning was only recently discovered, doctors may misdiagnose symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the extremities, muscle weakness, poor balance, and other problems typical of denture cream neuropathy. People suffering from toxic zinc levels are sometimes misdiagnosed with other disorders that involve destruction of the myelin sheath.

Some of the demyelinating diseases most often misdiagnosed in patients with denture cream neuropathy include:

• Demyelinating Syndrome: This syndrome is often associated with other diseases, such as lupus. Common symptoms of Demyelinating Syndrome include tingling or numbness in legs, arms, chest, or face, weakness, blurred or double vision, loss of dexterity, and coordination problems.
• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): CIDP is a rare neurological disorder characterized by progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. Swelling of nerve roots and destruction of the myelin sheath are often associated with CIDP. Symptoms include tingling or numbness in the toes and fingers, weakness of the arms and legs, loss of deep tendon reflexes, fatigue, abnormal sensations, and impairment in motor function. CIDP is closely related to Guillain-Barre syndrome.
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs, with abnormal sensations spreading to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until the patient is almost totally paralyzed. Reflexes such as knee jerks are usually lost.
• Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune condition affecting more than 400,000 people in the U.S. In patients with Multiple Sclerosis, the immune system attacks the central nervous system, leading to damage of the myelin sheath. People suffering from denture cream zinc poisoning are sometimes misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis because many of the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are identical to those of copper depletion and neuropathy. A person with Multiple Sclerosis can suffer several neurological symptoms, including numbness or tingling in the extremities, muscle weakness, difficulty in moving, and problems with coordination and balance.

If you have experienced the symptoms of a demyelinating disease and you are a denture cream user, you should ask your doctor to test the zinc and copper levels in your blood. This way, you can ensure that your denture cream neuropathy is treated correctly and not misdiagnosed as another neurological disorder or autoimmune condition. If denture cream use has lead to health problems for you, a denture cream lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation.