Genotoxicity of dental resin polymerization initiators in vitro.

The polymerization initiators for resins cured using visible light usually consist of a photosensitizer, primarily camphorquinone (CQ), and a reducing agent, which is often a tertiary amine (DMPT, DMAEMA), while the initiator used for self-curing resins consists of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and a tertiary amine (DMPT). The genotoxicities of camphorquinone (CQ), benzoyl peroxide (BPO), dimethyl-para-toluidine (DMPT), 2-dimethylamino-ethyl-methacrylate (DMAEMA), and 1-allyl-2-thiourea (ATU) were examined using the bioluminescent bacterial genotoxicity test. 4-Nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO) was prepared for comparison with these chemicals. Acetone solutions of the five polymerization initiators and 4NQO were prepared. Benzoyl peroxide (BPO), dimethyl-para-toluidine (DMPT), and 1-allyl-2-thiourea (ATU) showed significant genotoxic activity at 24 h in the bioluminescent bacterial genotoxicity test, at concentrations of approximately 5 microM, 4 mM, and 1 mM, respectively. 2-Dimethyloamino-ethyl-methacrylate (DMAEMA) did not have genotoxic activity and CQ had questionable genotoxic activity. In comparison, 4NQO had strong genotoxicity, at 4 microM, roughly the same as that of BPO. Therefore, BPO should be used carefully in clinical dentistry.