The European Commission asked its independent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) to provide a risk assessment on dental amalgam and alternatives such as resin-based composites, glass ionomer cements, ceramics and gold alloys to update the SCENIHR’s 2008 Opinion in light of new developments and data.

Resin-modified glass ionomer fillings are commonly used in pediatric dentistry. We have investigated possible exposure of monomers from such materials in vivo. Saliva was collected at three time points, pre-treatment, immediately after placement, and one week post-placement, from 20 patients aged seven to ten that had their first resin-based glass ionomer filling placed.