Cytotoxicity of gutta-percha points and thermoplastic endodontic obturation materials

Abstract

This study was purposed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of commercially available 3 types of prefabricated gutta-percha points and 8 types of thermoplastic endodontic obturation materials using MTT tests and agar overlay test. On MTT test, the Obtura ® showed significantly lower cell viability (16.3±0.8% vs. Control; p<0.05), which is over four times lower than those of other tested materials (p<0.05). The Diadent point ® , Sure-endo point ® , and Diadent Medium ® showed rather higher cell viability compared to that of Control (p<0.05). On agar overlay test, Sure-endo Soft ® and Sure-endo Hard ® showed a lower cytotoxicity (decolorization index = 2) compared to other tested materials (decolorization index = 3), while all the tested materials ranked as ‘moderate cytotoxic’ (response index = 2/2 or 3/2). From this study it is demonstrated that the endodontic obturation materials have various degrees of cytotoxicity, and further in vivo biocompatibility evaluation is needed.