[Cytotoxicity of some dental cements in a cell culture system (author's transl)]

Four dental cements of zinc phosphate cement, polycarboxylate cement, zinc oxide-eugenol cement and epoxy resin cement have been tested by means of cell culture method using L strain cell. The cells were cultured with a test piece of the cements in the incubator of 37 degrees C. The test pieces of powder, liquid, un-set cement and set cement were prepared. Cell multiplication, medium pH and zone index in agar diffusion method were measured and also cell morphological changes were observed around the test piece. Test pieces of the four un-set cements showed cytotoxic action at 2 hours administration, although the cytotoxicity of their cements decreased after setting. pH 7.2 of the normal medium was changed to 4.6 with un-set zinc phosphate cement. The other cements affected slightly comparing with zinc phosphate cement. The largest zone index which indicates degree of cytotoxicity, were observed around the test piece of the liquid of zinc phosphate cement. In this study, a biocompatibility of four dental cements was investigated and the following results were obtained. 1. Zinc phosphate cement showed strong cytotoxic action under the un-set condition, and the cytotoxicity almost disappeared after setting. 2. Polycarboxylate cement showed weaker cytotoxic action than zinc phosphate cement. However the cytotoxicity did not disappear after setting. 3. Zinc oxide-eugenol cement showed cytotoxic action which was similar to polycarboxylate cement, but it was slightly stronger than that of polycarboxylate cement. 4. Epoxy resin cement showed the weakest cytotoxic action than other three cements under the un-set condition. The cytotoxicity of set epoxy resin cement was strong, followed by zinc oxide-eugenol cement.