Acute tissue irritation of polysulfide rubber impression materials

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Toxicology
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Polysulfide rubber impression materials are widely used in dentistry.
• Assessing the biocompatibility and potential toxicity of dental materials is crucial for patient safety.
• The American Dental Association (ADA) certifies dental materials based on specific standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acute toxic reactions and inflammatory responses of polysulfide rubber impression materials.
• To compare the toxicity of 14 different ADA-certified polysulfide rubber impression materials.
• To investigate the relationship between material properties (e.g., lead content, viscosity) and toxicity.

Main Methods:

• Acute toxicity testing involving injection of 14 polysulfide rubber impression materials into the oral mucosa of two baboons.
• Quantitative evaluation of the inflammatory response after a 48-hour exposure period.
• Analysis of material characteristics, including lead content and physical form (light-bodied vs. other).

Main Results:

• Two of the 14 tested polysulfide rubber impression materials exhibited significantly higher acute toxicity.
• A lower toxicity was observed in light-bodied materials, which also contained less lead.
• Toxicity levels did not show a strong correlation with the lead content of the materials.

Conclusions:

• Certain polysulfide rubber impression materials possess a higher potential for acute oral mucosal toxicity.
• Material formulation, beyond lead content, plays a significant role in the observed toxicity.
• Further research is warranted to identify specific toxic components and optimize material safety.