Root canal sealer cytotoxicity on human gingival fibroblasts. 1. Zinc oxide-eugenol-based sealers

The cytotoxicity of six different zinc oxide-eugenol root canal sealers was tested by determining the incorporation of [L-14C]leucine in human gingival fibroblasts that had been in contact with root canal sealers after setting for 24 and 48 h. The biopsies were obtained from healthy patients. In some cases there was a significant difference shown in the fibroblasts' protein synthesis ([L-14C]leucine incorporation) between the group that was coveted with fibroblasts 24 h and the group that was covered 48 h after mixing (p less than 0.05). The fibroblasts were cultured with the different sealers for 21 days. In the 24-h group, Pulp Canal Sealer showed initially moderate cytotoxic potential but, after 13 days, fibroblast recovery was noticeable. Tubli-Seal, Endoseal, Hermetic, Proco-Sol, and Wach's Formula showed slight recovery at the end phase of the test. Hermetic and Endoseal showed also in the 48-h group a similar development as in the 24-h group. A relative low cytotoxicity was observed with Tubli-Seal, Proco-Sol, Pulp Canal Sealer, and Wach's Formula at the beginning of the test period. Pulp Canal Sealer showed at the middle phase of the trial a toxic increase, but after the 15th day recovery of the fibroblasts was noticed. In this group constant toxic potential increase was observed with Wach's Formula and Tubli-Seal.