EFFECT OF SOAKING IN HANKS BALANCED SALT SOLUTION OR MILK ON PDL CELLVIABILITY OF DRY STORED HUMAN TEETH

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of soaking in either Ha nk's balanced salt solution (HBSS) or milli on periodontal ligament (P DL) cell viability in avulsed teeth. Dry storage times of 30, 60, and 90 min were evaluated. PDL cell viability was determined after removal of the cells from the root surfaces of extracted teeth using a modifi cation of the procedure described by Nakashima (Arch Oral Biol 1991;36 :655-63). After trypsinization and subsequent treatment in collagenase , the cells were stained with trypan blue, and viable and non-viable c ells were counted using a hemocytometer and converted to percentages f or statistical comparison. The results of this study demonstrated no s ignificant difference in the number of viable cells with or without so aking in HBSS or milli at any of the dry storage times. In addition, t here was no significant difference in PDL cell viability between the 3 0- and the 60-min dry periods. Although the soaking procedure had no o bvious negative consequence, no significant improvement in PDL cell vi ability by the addition of this step was demonstrated under the condit ions of this study.