Risks with dental materials

Objectives Dental materials are among the most used substitutes for biological tissue in the human body. The possible health effects of amalgam have been studied extensively and have sometimes been replaced with other less well-examined materials. The aim was to study the hazards of other dental materials than amalgam. Methods Toxicological information was collected from the Swedish Dental Materials Register 2003 (DentMr). The material safety data sheets (MSDS) included in the DentMR was examined regarding the given composition of the products, the occurrence of CAS-numbers and risk and safety phrases of the substances. Furthermore, complementary information about risk and safety phrases for substances with missing information in the MSDS was collected by using two easily available databases. Results There were 482 products that included 377 substances of which 219 could be identified. Only 26% of 219 substances had risk and safety phrases. However, via the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate Classification Register and the Sigma–Aldrich® product register, risk and safety phrases could be found for 37 substances. A literature search indicated that some of the listed substances had possible hazards, e.g. substances with embryotoxic and neurotoxic potential. Significance The information about hazards with dental materials seems insufficiently described in MSDS and there might be materials with side effects unknown to both patients and dental personnel. There is a need for stronger regulation of dental materials, at least substances that the patients will be exposed to for decades.