[Dental materials can cause oral allergic reactions].

A large number of materials used in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dental, periodontal and oral mucosal diseases may induce acute or chronic reactions in the oral cavity including allergic reactions. Clinically, it may be difficult to discriminate oral mucosal changes caused by dental materials from changes related to oral mucosal diseases. Diagnosis and management of allergic reactions in the oral mucosa may therefore be a major challenge.

Formaldehyde cytotoxicity in three human cell types assessed in three different assays.

International standards for preclinical screening of the cytotoxicity of dental materials so far recommend the use of established cell lines. The aim of this study was to assess the relative susceptibility of human dental pulp fibroblasts (HPF), human buccal epithelial cells (HBE) and HeLa cervix cancer cells exposed to identical cytotoxic challenges. Formaldehyde, which may be released from dental materials such as dental composites, glassionomer cements, and endodontic sealers, was used as test chemical.

Time-related bisphenol-A content and estrogenic activity in saliva samples collected in relation to placement of fissure sealants.

It was recently reported that estrogenic activity was detected in saliva samples collected during 1 h after placement of one fissure sealant (Delton) and this related to Bisphenol-A (BPA) content. The aim of the present study was to determine the time-related BPA content and estrogenic activity in saliva samples collected before and after placement of two fissure sealants each with a different monomer composition. Eight healthy male volunteers with no history of prior placement of fissure sealants or composite resin fillings had four molars sealed with either Delton LC (four people) or Visio-Seal (four people).

Bisphenol-A content of resin monomers and related degradation products.

Recently, it was reported that Bisphenol-A (BPA) was released from one fissure sealant (Delton) into saliva causing estrogenic activity in vitro. The aim of this study was to chemically analyze the BPA content of different fissure sealant resin monomers and their release of BPA under hydrolytic conditions. BPA content was first measured in commercially available monomers of bisphenol-A glycidyldimethacrylate (Bis-GMA), bisphenol-A dimethacrylate (Bis-DMA) and bisphenol-A diglycidylether (BADGE).

Environmental aspects of dental filling materials.

In recent years, the possible environmental impact caused by certain routines in dental practice has attracted attention among regulators. As part of point source reduction strategies, the discharge of mercury/amalgam-contaminated wastes has been regulated in a number of countries, even though it has been documented that by adopting appropriate mercury hygiene measures, including installation of amalgam-separating devices, the environmental impact of amalgam use in dentistry is minimal. There are, so far, no data indicating the environmental impact of methacrylate-based dental filling materials.