ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Composite restorative materials represent one of the most important groups of materials in contemporary dental practice. However, their incomplete polymerization may lead to monomer-induced genotoxicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of three flowable (Filtek Supreme XT Flow, Tetric EvoFlow, Gradia Direct Flo) and three non-flowable dental composite materials (Filtek Z250, Tetric EvoCeram, Gradia Direct Posterior). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotoxicity assessment of composite materials was carried out in vitro in human peripheral blood leukocytes using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis technique (comet assay). Prepared materials were eluted in saline solution for 1 h, 1 day and 5 days. Thereafter leukocyte cultures were treated with different concentrations of eluates obtained from each of the tested dental composite materials. Kruskall-Wallis non-parametric test was used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The tested materials did not show genotoxic effects after exposure of leucocytes to 1 h eluates. Culture treated with 1 day eluates of all tested materials, only at a highest concentration (10(-2)), affected the measured cytogenetic parameters. Of all tested materials, only Filtek Z250 and Filtek Supreme XT Flow did not exhibit a genotoxic effect in cultures that were under the influence of 5 day eluates. CONCLUSION: Tested materials exhibited limited genotoxic activity in peripheral blood leukocytes. Since the effect was observed only in leukocyte cultures treated by 1-day eluates at the highest concentration (10(-2)) and it decreases in cultures exposed to 5 day eluates, it should not pose a significant risk to the human genome.
