Mutagenicity Evaluation of Orthodontic Resins Using the Ames Test

The biocompatibility of orthodontic materials is crucial for patient safety, especially concerning their possible mutagenic effects. This study aimed to assess the mutagenic potential of three commercially available orthodontic resins using the Ames test. We tested Resin A, Resin B, and Resin C, which consist of a base and an accelerator component. We used Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537, along with TA1538, both with and without metabolic activation (S9 mix), following standardized protocols. After 48 h, we counted the number of revertant colonies and analyzed the data using two-way ANOVA. The Ames test revealed that Resins A and B induced significant mutagenic activity in strains TA100 and TA1535, with increases in revertant colonies up to about +145% compared with controls, while no effects were observed in TA98, TA1537, or TA1538. Resin C (both the complete mix and the base component) also showed mutagenicity in TA100 and TA1535, whereas the accelerator alone was consistently non-mutagenic. Positive controls confirmed the test system’s sensitivity. In conclusion, some orthodontic resins and their components showed mutagenic activity under the tested conditions. This highlights the need for mutagenicity testing as part of the biological safety assessment of dental materials.