Biologic Evaluation of a Silver-Copper-Germanium Dental Casting Alloy and a Gold-Germanium Coating Alloy

Abstract
An Ag-Cu-Ge alloy and an Au-Ge alloy were evaluated for their hemolytic effect on rabbit blood, cytotoxicity to α-L fibrosarcoma cells, and allergenic effect on guinea pigs. Neither alloy evoked a significant hemolytic response; cytotoxicity, and that of pure germanium, was no greater than that of ZOE cement; and, on the basis of the guinea pig response, the potential human allergenic response was considered to be Grade I (weak) and Grade II (mild), respectively.