Abstract
The relative complement-activating properties of several dental cements were investigated. After the cements were incubated with fresh human serum as a source of complement, the percent of the electrophoretic conversion was assessed by means of the C3 crossed-immunoelectrophoresis technique. It was determined that the ZnO-containing cements — which include zinc phosphate, zinc polycarboxylate, zinc oxide eugenol, and zinc hexyl vanillate — each caused C3 conversion, indicative of complement activation. Glass-ionomer cement, which does not contain ZnO, did not activate the complement system. In dose-response studies, ZnO at relatively low concentrations was effective in causing C3 conversion, while at higher concentrations ZnO appeared to block C3 conversion. Supernatants from ZnO suspensions also caused C3 conversion. Cement particle size, as well as soluble degradative products containing ZnO or Zn ++, were suggested as possible factors contributing to the differential effects of the dental cements on complement activation and/or function.
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