Principles of biocompatibility for dental practitioners

This article is an evidence-based tutorial on the principles of biocompatib ility Although the technical issues of biocompatibility may seem beyond the scope of most practicing dentists, knowledge of these issues is fundamenta lly important to ensure the health of patients, dental staff members (inclu ding laboratory personnel), and practitioners themselves. Furthermore, the legal liability of dentists is often linked to biocompatibility issues. The biocompatibility of a material is not absolute; it must be measured with r egard to the way the material is used. Measuring biocompatibility is a comp lex process that involves in vitro and in vivo tests. These tests contribut e to understanding biologic responses to a material but cannot define the m aterial's biocompatibility with 100% certainty. Practitioners should unders tand enough about biocompatibility testing methods to critically judge adve rtising claims and ask relevant questions of manufacturers. Because there i s no infallible way to assess biologic response to a material, decisions ab out the clinical use of a material ultimately must weigh the biologic risks of a material against its potential benefits.