Organic Components Leaching From Resin Dental Sealants

Objectives: The profile of organic components leaching from five resin-based pit and fissure sealants was evaluated using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after 1 and 40 days of storage. In addition, the effect of resin-based pit and fissure sealants on cell survival was also tested.
Methods: The following resin materials were studied: BeautiSealant (SHOFU), Clinpro (3M / ESPE), Conseal F (SDI), Grandio Seal (VOCO) and Helioseal Clear (Ivoclar / Vivadent). Disks were made of each material, polymerized and immersed in a caffeine/methanol solution (0.1mg/ml). Caffeine was used as an internal standard. The materials were divided into groups and left in an incubator for 1 and 40 days. Analyses were performed on a GC / MS device (Clarus 500, Perkin Elmer). Identification was based on the NIST library, retention time and bibliography. For cytotoxicity evaluation, NIH/3T3 cells were exposed to cured sealants and cell viability was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion test at two observation periods (24h and 72h). The statistical analysis of the results was performed with the SPSS software.
Results: The main organic monomers leaching from the tested materials were: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), bis-phenol-A (BPA), diethylenglycoldimethacrylate (DEGDMA), 4N, N-dimethylaminobenzoic acid butylethoxyester (DMABEE), hydroxyethylmethcrylate (HEMA), hydroquinone monomethylether (MEHQ), Tetrabutylammonium Tetrafluoroborate (TBATFB), Triphenylstibane (TPSb). The tested materials showed different profiles concerning the identity and percentage of leaching components. Higher monomer concentrations were detected at 40 days. At both time intervals the main monomer detected was TEGDMA, whereas BHT and DEGDMA were detected at lower concentrations. Cell survival declined when the observation time according to the type of the material tested.
Conclusions: GC/MS appears to be suitable for detecting and identifying monomers leaching from resin-based pit and fissure sealants. The evaluation of the human health hazard therefore in order to avoid any possible risk of human health.