Biological compatibility is decisive for root canal sealers because they come in direct contact with the apical tissues. The ingredients present in these materials could produce irritation or even degeneration of the surrounding tissues. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of three root canal sealers (Apexit, AH plus and Ketac Endo) by using mouse L929 fibroblasts. Cell viability and cell morphology were used as parameters to determine the cytotoxicity of the materials. Methods: Freshly mixed sealers, prepared according to the manufacturers directions, were placed on teflon discs and put on the well bottom of a 12-well plate. The sealers were covered with cell suspension and incubated at 37°C for 1, 6, 20 and 24 h. After incubation, the teflon discs were removed, and the morphological changes and number of viable cells were determined microscopically. Results: Ketac Endo caused a significant decrease in the number of viable L929 cells after 1 hour, while no viable cells were observed after 6 hours (p < 0,05). AH plus reduced significantly the cell number for the 6 h, 20 h and 24 h incubation times (p < 0,05). The effect of Apexit on viable cells was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The least cytotoxic sealer was Apexit, followed by AH plus and Ketac Endo. This research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology (0062058), Republic Croatia.

Back to the Dental Materials: VIII - Others-Non-metallic Program
Back to the 81st General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (June 25-28, 2003)

Top Level Search