Biocompatibility of visible light-polymerized denture base resins

The biocompatibility of three commercial formulations of visible light-polymerized denture base resins was studied to determine its effects on the RNA and DNA synthesis of oral epithelial cells in vitro. Isotope incorporation into RNA or DNA was measured after 24 hours of incubation with isotope and 48 hours of exposure to resin. The resins were shown to significantly inhibit the synthesis of both nucleotides as compared to a heat-processed resin control. Increasing the polymerization time can mitigate the toxicity of some of the resins. The air barrier coatings used to prevent oxygen inhibition of polymerization increased the toxic effects of two resins and decreased that of one of the materials. These investigations suggest that visible light-polymerized denture resins may impair the replication of oral epithelial cells. DNA synthesis is more sensitive to the toxic effects of the materials, which may relate to the ability to cause mucosal pathology. The cytotoxic effects may relate to the presence of unpolymerized resin constituents or polymerization by-products.