Characterization of the Cytotoxicity of Materials in Dental Medicine

The increasing use of synthetic and metallic materials in modern dentistry has raised growing concerns about their potential biological impact on oral and systemic health. Many of these materials can release toxic components into the oral environment due to incomplete polymerization, mechanical wear, or enzymatic degradation. Resin mono-mers such as TEGDMA, BisGMA, and EGDMA have shown dose-dependent cytotoxic effects, often through mechanisms involving oxidative stress and apoptosis. Similarly, metals such as nickel, mercury, cobalt, and components of titanium and zirconium im-plants can provoke allergic or systemic reactions and lead to cellular damage. Further-more, impression materials and substances like eugenol also demonstrate cytotoxic ef-fects. Cytotoxicity can vary based on the dosage, duration of exposure, and combination of materials used. This review is based on a systematic analysis of peer-reviewed litera-ture from major biomedical databases, focusing on studies published between 2000 and 2024 that examined the cytotoxicity of dental materials in vitro and in vivo. It empha-sizes the importance of standardized testing (ISO 10993, ISO 14971, ISO 7405) to ensure material safety and guide clinical decision-making in dentistry.