Why Portugal's dentists rely on a chemical substance substance banned in gel nail polishes

Published on 26/09/2025 - 13:47 GMT+2

A prohibition connected semi-permanent nail polishes came into effect crossed nan European Union earlier this period amid concerns complete a cardinal ingredient's wellness effect – but successful Portugal, astatine least, it is still utilized successful different sectors.

This substance, Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO), is simply a photoinitiator that accelerates nan drying and hardening of gel nails done UV light. The European Commission deemed it "carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic for reproduction," pinch nan prohibition coming into unit connected 1 September.

The rule has near nan manufacture successful disarray, pinch nail salons unsure really to safely dispose of existing banal and facing losses owed to galore now unusable varnishes. Manufacturers besides had to unreserved to reformulate products without nan arguable substance.

However, nan prohibition mightiness not beryllium constricted to cosmetic products, arsenic this chemic compound is utilized successful galore applications to harden materials.

This includes dentistry. Photoinitiators specified arsenic TPO are utilized successful definite dental products, specified arsenic resins and cements, to assistance curing and execute a stable, non-discolouring finish.

The Portuguese Dental Association (OMD) confirmed nan usage of this compound successful dental procedures successful Portugal, according to Rádio Renascença. These procedures see fissure sealing, bony restoration, and moreover cosmetic treatments specified arsenic teeth whitening.

According to OMD, nan magnitude of this constituent "is minimal compared to what is utilized successful cosmetics," though nan percent of TPO is not mentioned successful dental products. It is besides chartless if its beingness successful resins and cements poses a wellness risk.

Following nan European Commission's prohibition connected this chemic successful cosmetics, dentists and orthodontic worldly companies now fearfulness an hold of nan regularisation to their assemblage and a imaginable hold of nan rule to aesculapian devices.

Infarmed told Renascença that it was unaware of nan beingness of this constituent successful nan dental industry, noting only that "at this infinitesimal it is ensuring compliance pinch nan European regulation, specifically nan prohibition connected nan usage of TPO successful varnishes".

TPO is still permitted successful different dental applications, nutrient packaging, 3D printing, and moreover successful nan building of prostheses.