Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, Vol 7, 172-179, Copyright © 1996 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Bioavailability of components of resin-based materials which are applied to teeth
W. R. Hume and T. M. Gerzina
Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0758, USA.
Chemical components of many materials used in dental practice can move into
the local biophase, where they can have beneficial or adverse effects. The
strongest indirect evidence that components of resin-based materials used
in dentistry can move into the biophase are the many reports of allergic
dermatitis in dental personnel. Direct measurement of component release has
shown that triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), hydroxyethyl
methacrylate (HEMA), and, in the case of some orthodontic cements,
bis-glycidyl methacrylate and benzoyl peroxide can move into an aqueous
medium from a range of resin-based materials which are applied to teeth as
part of oral care. In the case of resin composite restorations, HEMA and
TEGDMA are available in microgram quantities via the salivary surface in
the minutes and hours after clinical placement and via dentin and pulp in
the hours and days after placement. Fortunately, moderate thickness of
dentin protects pulp tissue against local toxicity. There are no data which
suggest that systemic toxicity is a risk with any of these materials. There
are some case reports of allergic responses to the monomers in patients,
but the incidence of such responses appears at present to be much lower
than that in dental personnel.
