Chen Yan, Chen Jian, Guo Jingyao, Yao Minhui, Liu Yue, Qian Jieshu, Ma Qian
Department of General Dentistry, the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China; State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Research, Prevention and Treatment for Oral Diseases, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
Stomatological Hospital affiliated Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215002, China.
J Hazard Mater. 2025 Aug 15;494:138463. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138463. Epub 2025 May 1.
Plastic products are widely used in modern dentistry, including dental instruments and resin-based materials. In recent years, microplastics (MPs) that are generated from plastic products have been demonstrated to pose negative impacts on human health. However, the possible exposure of MP during dental procedures has been rarely explored. This study aims to assess the MP exposure faced by both dental personnel and patients via simulating the wear and cleaning procedures of dentures, as well as the grinding of resin-based materials under clinical settings. Additionally, environmental samples of the dental clinic were collected to determine the types and concentrations of MP settlement. The biological toxicity of the particles has also been evaluated. Results showed that denture releases MP particles into artificial saliva during soaking and cleaning processes. During the grinding of resin-based materials, MP could be detected in settlements with decreased concentration as the increase of distance from 25 cm to 100 cm. A substantial accumulation of particles was observed in the clinic within a single day. Grinding-generated MPs exhibited biological toxicity toward oral keratinocyte cells and triggered inflammation in macrophages at concentrations that could be encountered in clinical exposure. This study confirms the presence of MP exposure during dental procedures, providing valuable insights for the development of improved management regulations and pollution control measures in dental practice.
塑料制品在现代牙科中广泛应用，包括牙科器械和树脂基材料。近年来，塑料制品产生的微塑料（MPs）已被证明对人类健康有负面影响。然而，牙科操作过程中MPs的潜在暴露情况鲜有研究。本研究旨在通过模拟假牙的磨损和清洁过程以及临床环境下树脂基材料的研磨，评估牙科工作人员和患者面临的MPs暴露情况。此外，收集牙科诊所的环境样本以确定MPs沉降的类型和浓度。还评估了颗粒的生物毒性。结果表明，假牙在浸泡和清洁过程中会向人工唾液中释放MP颗粒。在研磨树脂基材料时，在距研磨点25厘米至100厘米范围内，随着距离增加，沉降物中MPs浓度降低。在一天内诊所内观察到大量颗粒积累。研磨产生的MPs对口腔角质形成细胞具有生物毒性，并在临床暴露可能遇到的浓度下引发巨噬细胞炎症。本研究证实了牙科操作过程中存在MPs暴露，为制定更好的管理法规和牙科实践中的污染控制措施提供了有价值的见解。
