P62?Methacrylates in dental restorative materials: Abstracts

Commercial dental restorative materials were analysed in order to get information about the occurrence and amounts of sensitizing acrylates and methacrylates. The analytical results were compared to information given in the safety data sheets. Acetone soluble methacrylates of seven bonding materials, eight composite resins and two glass ionomers were identified by gas chromatography with mass selective detection and quantified by liquid chromatography with UV detection. The most frequently occurring methacrylates in the bonding materials were 2‐hydroxyethylmetharylate (2‐HEMA) in the concentration range 0.3–28% and 2,2‐bis(4‐(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloxypropoxy)phenyl)‐propane (bisGMA) in the concentration range 21–40%. BisGMA and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) were the most frequently occurring methacrylates in composite resins. Their concentration ranges were 5.8–21% and 3.2–6.7% respectively. The main methacrylate of the two glass ionomers was 2‐HEMA (23%) or trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA, 9%). Information about methacrylates was given in the safety data sheets for about half of the products that according to the analysis results contained methacrylates. Safety data sheets need to be improved so that the health risks for dental personnel can be reliably asessed and controlled.