CELLULAR INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES TO IMPLANTED DENTAL MATERIALS

Cellular inflammatory responses to subcutaneous implantation of amalga m and composite resins were assessed in rats by use of histologic and immunocytochemical methods 2 days to 8 weeks after implantation. Froze n and paraffin sections were obtained hom subcutaneous tissues associa ted with amalgam and composite resin suspensions. The amalgam induced mild inflammation with proliferation of few resident macrophages, but implantation of composite resins was associated with an influx of mono cytes, increased numbers of resident connective tissue macrophages, an d abnormal major histocompatibility antigen class II (Ia antigen) expr ession. The data suggest that composite resins may produce a more pron ounced inflammatory response than dental amalgams do when incorporated in soft tissues.