Bioanalysis as a powerful tool in Dentistry: the case of short-term and long-term release of Monomers from dental Composites

Novel materials used in preventive and restorative dentistry contain monomers with endocrine or cytotoxic properties, which can cause minimum or even severe damage to human body, when found in specific concentrations. The degradation of resin composite restorations after aging and/or storage in different solutions is associated with leaching monomers, like bisphenol Aglycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), Urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), Bisphenol A (BPA), which are potentially leading to toxicity and mutagenicity effects or cause allergic reactions. These monomers may cause health issues to patients, therefore their determination both in-vitro and in biological fluids e.g. saliva, blood serum/plasma and urine is significant. Moreover, analytical methods are necessary to investigate the rate of elution, as well as the conditions that mainly affect the mechanism of short-term and long-term release of monomers from dental composites. In this review article we present some of the techniques and methods used to determine the short-term and long-term release of these monomers from modern dental materials and prove that analytical chemistry and especially bioanalysis can be a powerful tool in dentistry