There is no doubt that the most serious health risk to dental staff is due to infection by microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. In addition there are other hazards that pose a health risk and require physical protection.

None of the tested composite materials was deemed less safe to use than the others, a recent report from NIOM concluded. The release of monomers from the different composites was similar. Initial cytotoxicity screening of extracts of the materials indicated some differences between the products. However, further evaluations could not verify a cytotoxic potential.