EFFECTS OF RTC-SILICONE MAXILLOFACIAL PROSTHETIC ELASTOMERS ON CELL-CULTURES

The use of a wide variety of materials in the construction of maxillof acial prostheses makes biocompatibility testing a necessity. However, the dental literature contains few reports of biocompatibility testing of maxillofacial prosthetic materials. The cytotoxic profiles of five room-temperature cross-linking (RTC)-silicone elastomers were investi gated by means of two in vitro cell culture techniques. Mouse fibrobla st cells (L929) were used, and the results indicated that RTC-silicone elastomers adversely affected cells in culture and that storage of sa mples for 1 week in saline solution did not alter this effect. Clinica l follow-up of patients wearing prostheses made of these silicone mate rials is warranted to evaluate host reactions in long-term contact wit h human mucous membrane and skin tissue.