Background: Numerous in vitro studies have shown that composite materials, commonly used for restorations in conservative dentistry, and in orthodontics to anchor brackets to the tooth enamel, have cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. The study determined expression of p53, p63 and p16, biomarkers useful for predicting potential genotoxicity.
Conclusion: The significance of p53, p63 and p16 positivity, and whether these proteins may serve as biomarkers to predict the risk of developing oral lesions (dysplasia, oral cancer) is still unclear. Although details of the mechanisms leading to cell death, genotoxicity and cell-cycle delay are not fully understood, resin monomers may alter cell function in the oral cavity.