Cytotoxicity evaluation of six root canal sealers

Cell cultures of human gingival fibroblasts obtained from healthy patients were used to evaluate the toxicity of six different endodontic cements: AH-26, Pulp Canal Sealer, Rocanal-R2, Rocanal-R3, Bioseal, and Endomethasone. The toxicity was determined by measuring spectrophotometrically at 405 nm the colorimetric reaction of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase, an endogenous enzyme, with the chromogenic substrate [p-nitrophenol-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamide (NAG)]. Severe cytotoxicity was observed in the 1- and 2-wk test solutions of AH-26. Pulp Canal Sealer and Endomethasone showed low cytotoxicity in the 1- and 2-wk test solutions at 24, 48, and 72 h. Moderate cytotoxicity was observed in the 1- and 2-wk test solutions of Bioseal, except at 48 and 72 h of 1-wk test solutions. Rocanal-R2 showed severe cytotoxicity in the 1-wk test solutions at 48 and 72 h, and in the 2-wk test solutions at 24, 48, and 72 h. Moderate cytotoxicity was seen in the 1- and 2-wk test solutions of Rocanal-R3 only at 24 h.