They may suppress cellular metabolism for up to how many weeks?

• A. 1 week
• B. 2 weeks
• C. 4 weeks
• D. 8 weeks

Answer: (C)

Some dental materials can cause temporary suppression of cellular metabolism because they release toxic substances into the surrounding environment. Unpolymerized monomers and other additives can continue to leach out for weeks after placement, so the cells in tests may show reduced metabolic activity for an extended period. In biocompatibility testing, this lingering release often leads to measurable cytotoxic effects that persist up to about a month. That’s why four weeks is the best choice here: shorter durations may miss ongoing leaching, while eight weeks is longer than the typical persistence of leachables under standard test conditions. Individual materials vary, but four weeks represents the common maximum window for sustained cytotoxic impact in these assessments.