Janet W. Ergle

In vitro cytotoxicity of resin-containing restorative materials after aging in artificial saliva

Abstract Studies have reported that dental resin-based materials release substances which have biological liabilities. However, some current methods for detecting these substances may not be adequate to detect biologically relevant concentrations. In the current study, we hypothesized that resin-based materials exhibit cytotoxic effects and alter cellular function in vitro when high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV detection) cannot detect any release of substances. We further hypothesized that this release continues even after aging the samples in artificial saliva. Five types of composite or compomer materials (Z-100, Tetric Ceram, Dyract AP, Solitaire, and Clearfil AP-X) and one organically modified ceramic material (Definite) were tested after aging in artificial saliva for 0, 7, or 14 days. Cytotoxicity was assessed using direct contact with fibroblasts and measurement of succinic dehydrogenase activity after 48 h of exposure post aging. Release of substances from the materials was assessed using HPLC with UV detection. Altered cellular function was estimated by measuring proliferation of MCF-7 cells with sulforhodamine staining. HPLC showed that whereas initial release of substances was higher without aging, this release dropped significantly after 7 or 14 days of aging, and was equivalent to the Teflon controls after 14 days for four of the materials (Tetric Ceram, Definite, Solitaire, and Clearfil AP-X). Without aging in saliva, all materials had cytotoxicities >50% of the Teflon negative controls. After 14 days of aging, all materials except the Definite continued to show severe cytotoxicity. Only the Definite could be tested for its ability to alter cellular function because of the continuing toxicity of the other materials. This modified ceramic material caused a significant proliferative effect on the MCF-7 cells indicating that sufficient substances were released to alter cellular function. We concluded that all of these commercially available resin-based dental materials continue to release sufficient components to cause lethal effects or alter cellular function in vitro even after 2 weeks of aging in artificial saliva.

Identification and characterization of estrogen-like components in commercial resin-based dental restorative materials.

Abstract Recently, resin-based dental restorative materials have been targeted as potential sources of xenoestrogens, specifically bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BAD), which could contribute to overall estrogen load and result in deleterious side effects. The present study used high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to analyze twenty-eight different commercially available dental resins for the presence of BPA and/or BAD. In addition, sublines of the MCF-7 human breast tumor cell line were cultured in the presence of eluates from eleven of the dental resins and assessed for proliferative responses using the sulforhodamine B assay. Only one resin, Delton II, had detectable levels of BPA or BAD that could be verified by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Likewise, eluates from Delton II were the only samples that elicited a significant proliferative response in two of the MCF-7 sublines tested. Therefore, we conclude that dental resins in general do not represent a significant source of BPA or BAD exposure.

Effects of specimen geometry on the measurement of fracture toughness

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of compact test specimen geometries of reduced size for the measurement of fracture toughness, KIc, of dental resin composites. Provisional fracture toughness values were determined for four dental composites by use of a reduced-size compact test specimen. The specimens were volumetrically 8% of the size of compact test specimens used in previous studies on dental composites. The test results and conditions met validity tests. These results were compared with those from previous studies that used large compact test specimens. It is concluded that the reduced-size compact test specimen is an acceptable alternative for measurement of fracture toughness.

Water-enhanced crystallization of leucite in dental porcelain

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-term exposure of dental porcelain to saliva during temporary cementation of a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) restoration could enhance leucite crystallization if the restoration is refired. Such water-enhanced leucite crystallization in dental porcelains could lead to porcelain-metal thermal incompatibility problems. METHODS Six commercial dental body porcelains and the Component No. 1 (leucite-containing) frit of the Weinstein et al. [13] patent were studied. For each porcelain, 30 coupon specimens were randomly assigned to a treatment group. Ten specimens were placed in artificial saliva, 10 in distilled water, and 10 in a desiccator and were stored for six months. At the end of the six months, an additional 10 coupons of each porcelain were prepared to serve as a control. All 40 specimens of each porcelain were randomized and subjected to one additional firing. Leucite weight fraction was determined by quantitative X-ray powder diffraction analysis via an internal standard technique. RESULTS Comparisons among the treatments via the least-squares-means test-adjusting for porcelain showed that the saliva group mean leucite weight fraction was significantly higher than that of the other groups. The change in porcelain thermal expansion that would be associated with a leucite change in this range would be between 0.2 x 10(-6) K-1 and 0.3 x 10(-6) K-1. SIGNIFICANCE The results of this work constitute the first demonstration that moisture absorbed by a porcelain can act as a glass modifier and enhance the crystallization of the glass during subsequent firing. The effect was sufficiently large to generate thermal expansion changes that would exceed the maximum safe mismatch between porcelain and metal.