title: Radiopaque acrylic resins containing miscible heavy-metal compounds.
abstract: Radiopacity is needed in order to facilitate diagnosis of polymeric appliances, which may be dislodged and become impacted in the upper respiratory or digestive tracts. In order for a stable, optically transparent, radiopaque material to be provided, heavy-metal compounds were investigated which we had previously shown to form homogeneous structures with methyl methacrylate-based systems. It was found that, when present in PMMA at 11 to 14%, several compounds of either bismuth or uranium or 35% of an organo-zirconium compound impart radiopacity equivalent to that of aluminum. A low level of cytotoxicity and lack of mutagenicity indicated that a high level of biocompatibility can be expected. Processing characteristics are somewhat altered, but formulations satisfactory for use in various dental devices were found.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rawls
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Starr
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Kasten
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smid
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cabasso
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D011859:Radiography; D014501:Uranium / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003287:Contrast Media; D003764:Dental Materials; D008689:Methacrylates; D014501:Uranium; D015040:Zirconium; D001729:Bismuth