Indirect cytotoxic evaluation of dental materials

The standard for cellular biocompatibility in vitro testing is American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association Document No. 41a (1982). The standard allows for the contact testing of solid dental materials for cytotoxicity with HeLa or mouse fibroblasts (L929). The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new method of cytotoxicity testing of biomaterials that allows for an economic standardized indirect cytotoxic screening of the originally dispensed material over a period of time at intervals decided by the investigator. The results show a significant difference of cytotoxicity on the basis of the material between the direct contact method and the indirect or diffusion method described.