Aims: The success of materials used in dentistry is closely related to their biological safety. In recent years, there has been growing concern about the biocompatibility of self-etch adhesives, which are frequently used in restorative dental treatment. The aim of this study is to compare the biocompatibility of four different single-stage self-etch adhesive materials (Prime & Bond One Select, Optibond All-in-One, Clearfil Universal Bond, and Single Bond Universal) with the animal test method and evaluate them histopathologically.
Methods: The experimental materials were polymerized by filling 10 mm-long, 2 mm-diameter polyurethane tubes. For each adhesive, 21 tubes were used. The tubes were placed in the subcutaneous pockets formed by four different incisions in the backs of 21 adult male albino rats. On the 7th, 30th, and 60th days, rats were randomly divided into three groups. At the end of these durations, the tube and the surrounding 2 cm2 of tissue were excised together. The sections were taken into preparation and stained with hematoxylen and eosin. The severity of inflammation, inflammatory cell count, and fibrous capsule thickness were evaluated histologically by light microscopy.
Results: On the 7th day of samples, lesions due to acute inflammation, edema, and PMNL infiltration were observed. In the 30th-day samples, it was observed that inflammation decreased against all materials and fibrocollagen tissue increased. On the 60th day, granulation and fibrous tissue increased due to regeneration and reparation processes. On the 60th day, the number of inflammatory cells decreased significantly compared to the 7th day. When the fibrous tissue formation was evaluated, it was found that the 7th day score was significantly lower than the 60th day score.
Conclusion: The severity of the inflammatory reaction at the beginning of all materials can be explained by the effects of residual monomer release and surgical trauma.