The elution and breakdown behavior of constituents from various light-cured composites

ObjectivesConstituents of dental composites can be released from dental fillings after polymerization. The aim of this study was to examine the time-related elution and breakdown of separable constituents of polymerized composites using deuterated solvents.MethodElution and breakdown of constituents were investigated with deuterated solvents methanol and water by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of following composites for 180 days: Filtek™ Supreme XT, Filtek™ Supreme XT Flow, Tetric Ceram®, Tetric Flow®, Grandio®, Grandio® Flow.ResultsWithin 180 days no compounds were formed as the products of breakdown. 19 compounds were identified as elution products: Bis-EMA, TEGDMA, DDDMA, EGDMA, MAA, BPA, CQ, HQME, DMABEE, CSA, BL, TEG, BHT, TINP, TPP, TPSB, DEDHTP, DCHP, ß-PHEA.The highest concentration of Bis-EMA was measured for Tetric Flow® in deuterated methanol on day 90 at 36.993 mmol/l and in deuterated water also on day 90 at 0.031 mmol/l.The highest TEGDMA concentrations were measured for Grandio® Flow in deuterated methanol on day 60 at 1.322 mmol/l and for Filtek™ Supreme XT Flow in deuterated water on day 3 at 0.689 mmol/l. The highest BPA concentration was measured for Tetric Flow® in deuterated methanol on day 90 at 1.469 mmol/l. The highest BPA concentration was measured for Grandio® in deuterated water on day 180 at 0.007 mmol/l.Significance Examination of time-related elution indicates that various elution products (e.g. Bis-EMA, BPA) were only released in small quantities during the first 90 days, but in high quantities between day 90 and day 180.