title: Cytotoxicity of amalgams.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the relative cytotoxicity of amalgams and to determine whether their toxicity depends upon composition and aging time, by means of a rapid and sensitive in vitro cell culture test. Zinc-containing amalgams showed higher cytotoxicity than did any other amalgams. High-copper amalgams had the same cytotoxicity as did the low-copper amalgam. The addition of selenium did not reduce the cytotoxicity of amalgam. Moreover, excessive additions of selenium increased the cytotoxicity of amalgam compared with that of a similar selenium-free material. The cytotoxicity of amalgam was decreased with aging time, possibly due to the combined effects of surface oxidation and further amalgamation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas 75246.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaga
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanawa
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ferracane
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okabe
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000633:toxicity*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc