Biocompatibility of Materials Used in Conservative Dentistry

Dental materials are biomaterials and therefore are subject to specific legal regulations and standards. Dental materials may cause adverse health effects. In dental patients though the frequency of these effects lies within the range of one-tenth of a percent and is thus very low but among dental personnel 40–50% report work-related health problems primarily related to latex gloves followed by acrylates. An important basis for evaluating a risk is the detailed knowledge about the composition of a material including possible contaminants. It is important for the clinician to be aware that in most cases a conspicuous discrepancy exists be - tween the patient’s risk perception and the scientifically assessed risk. Thus an important step toward objectifying the patient’s consultation may be to refer to this gap and to the risks of daily life; this can make it easier for the patient to realize and estimate the risk posed by dental materials.