Toxic effects of dental materials

Dental materials and clinical accessories may potentially cause adverse reactions in dentists, auxiliaries or patients. The introduction of new dental materials and a general awareness of adverse effects has been accompanied by an increase in the number of complaints related to dental treatment and to occupational exposure. Resin-based materials with various monomers, used as restorative composite materials, orthodontic adhesives and appliances, prosthodontic resins and impression materials, have all been involved. Reactions to metals used in extra-oral appliances in orthodontics seem to be relatively frequent, but few reactions have been reported following the use of other alloy systems. Some reactions may be due to toxic or allergic effects, but some are unexplained. Adverse reactions to any substance will usually be detected first in a setting where the exposure is greatest. This also holds true for dentistry, where some of the adverse reactions may be due to lack of knowledge about the toxic, irritant and allergenic properties of dental materials.