In vivo and in vitro studies of inhibitory effects of restorative dental materials on salivary esterases.

The influence of 18 dental materials on the activity of esterases isolated from human whole saliva has been studied. Eugenol on its own was a strong competitive inhibitor of the esterases II-2a (Ki = 3.3/10(-5) M) and II-2b (Ki = 4.7/10(-6) M). Except for Luralite all the materials that contained eugenol as one of the components (IRM, Nobetec and Opotow) were noncompetitive inhibitors. Additional in vitro inhibitors were: Adaptic, Aspa, Coe-pack and the amalgam ANA 68. Treatment with Nobetec packs in vivo resulted in a decrease activity of whole saliva.