Objective: Cytoxicity of composite filling materials in mammalian cells may vary with the setting time of test specimens and with the exposure period. In the present study, the responses in V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts after exposure to extracts of modern composite filling materials were quantitated. Methods: Five materials (Solitaire, Solitaire 2, TetricCeram, Dyract AP, Definite) were filled into glass rings (5mm diameter) and light-cured for 40s. After setting times of 0, 24, and 168 hours at 37°C, the test specimens were extracted in cell culture medium (minimal essential medium, 10% FBS) for 24 hours at a ratio of 3 specimens (= 117.8 mm2) per ml (original extract). V79 cells were then exposed to serial dilutions of the original extracts in 96 well plates for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell survival was determined photometrically after staining with crystal violet, and concentrations (dilutions of the original extracts) leading to 50% cell survival (TC50) were calculated from fitted dose-response curves in at least three independent experiments. Results: Cytotoxic effects were detected with all test materials, and the cytotoxic potencies of the materials varied at least 10-fold. Cytoxicity was independent of the setting time for each composite. The simple ranking of the cytotoxic effects of the composites according to TC50 values after a 24 hour exposure period was as follows (median TC50): Solitaire (0.12) = Solitaire 2 (0.12) < Tetric Ceram (0.23) < Dyract AP (0.33) < Definite (1.14). By increasing the exposure period from 24 to 72 h, the cytotoxic effect of Solitaire increased 1.7-fold, no changes were observed with Solitaire 2, however, cytotoxicity was reduced with Tetric Ceram (factor 2.3), Dyract AP (factor 2.4), and Definite (factor 2.3). Conclusion: Cytotoxicity of modern composite filling materials varied immensely mostly depending on the chemical composition and exposure periods.

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