The process of biocompatibility testing is simple; this blog will take you through step by step, the actions that need to be taken to have your biocompatibility test completed.

1. The first thing that you need to do is call us! We have testing kits on hand at our practice and we would be happy to provide you with one.

2. You will take the kit that you were given to any local clinic that has authority to order a blood test. The clinic will draw your blood and there are instructions provided for them in the kit to have the blood sent to our testing location.

3. That is the end of your part! But perhaps you are interested in what happens at the testing location…

4. Once the blood arrives to our testing location they will experiment on over 3500 different commonly used dental materials.

5. The materials are ranked and given a label of highly reactive, moderately reactive, or least reactive.

6. The results are then sent back to our practice, Cedar Cliff Dental Center, where we will be able to make an educated decision on which biocompatible materials will properly fit the restorations you need and have the lowest reaction to your body.

Would you like a more in depth explanation of how biocompatibility testing works? Read on…

In the testing center your blood sample will be spun on a device called a centrifuge, which will separate your blood cells from your blood serum. The blood cells are disposed of and the serum, which contains antibodies and other blood proteins, is used for testing. Small samples of the serum are taken and mixed with all of the components that would be found in dental materials (over 3500 components). If the antibodies bind with the serum they form an antibody complex; this is how we know an immune reaction will occur. When this complex is formed it will turn cloudy. The opacity is then measured by a light densitometer. The more opaque the complex, the higher reactivity it will have in your body. This is how the labels of highly reactive, moderately reactive and least reactive are given.

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