Immediate contact hypersensitivity to zinc oxide–eugenol restorative material in a pediatric patient: An unusual case report

The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions in the pediatric age group has been on the rise due to the changing patterns of lifestyle, exposure to allergens at a much earlier age, environmental changes, and genetic susceptibility. Zinc oxide–eugenol (ZOE) has been used predominantly as an endodontic sealer and as a temporary restorative agent for primary dentition since time immemorial. There have been very rare incidences of ZOE hypersensitivity in patients after obturation. Following is a case of immediate contact hypersensitivity reaction seen in a pediatric patient after obturation with ZOE. This case report aims to establish the possibility of ZOE as a potential trigger for contact allergic response in patients and thus cautions dental practitioners to manage the condition efficiently. It also highlights the need to look for alternative dental materials that can be used for obturation in patients allergic to ZOE.