Comparative tissue toxicity evaluation of four endodontic sealers

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Histopathology

Background:

• Dental sealers are crucial for root canal therapy.
• Understanding the biocompatibility of sealers is essential for clinical success.
• Previous studies have indicated varying tissue responses to different sealer formulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the subcutaneous tissue toxicity of zinc oxide-eugenol, Tubli seal, Sealapex, and Endoflas F.S. in a rat model.
• To histologically assess the inflammatory and toxic responses elicited by these sealers over different time intervals.

Main Methods:

• Subcutaneous implantation of four dental sealers into the dorsal connective tissue of rats.
• Histological examination of tissue sections at 48 hours, 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, and 3 months post-injection.
• Qualitative assessment of inflammation and tissue reaction severity.

Main Results:

• All tested sealers induced inflammation, which generally decreased over time.
• Sealapex demonstrated the mildest inflammatory response, transitioning from moderate to mild.
• Zinc oxide-eugenol, Tubli seal, and Endoflas F.S. initially caused severe toxicity, which gradually reduced.
• No significant inflammatory reaction was observed for any sealer at the 3-month mark.

Conclusions:

• Sealapex appears to be the most biocompatible sealer among those tested, showing minimal tissue reaction.
• While initially cytotoxic, zinc oxide-eugenol, Tubli seal, and Endoflas F.S. demonstrate a capacity for tissue healing and reduced toxicity over extended periods.
• Long-term biocompatibility is achievable with these endodontic sealers, with complete resolution of inflammatory responses by three months.