[Substitute model of an in-vitro biological trials. I. Standardized method using human pulp cells]

To ascertain the biocompatibility of dental materials, an in vitro biological test using cultures of human pulp cells was designed as an alternative to the in vivo method using human teeth. The cells were cultured from fresh explants of pulp germs and the 4th generation of cells (P4) was shown to be very similar to the controls. The comparison between the results of the in vitro cell cultures (obtained by rating the cells' growth and the histomorphology) and those of the controls (histologic rating of the pulpal response) indicated that the developed cell culture method was suitable for the preliminary evaluation of pulpal protective materials.