Cytotoxic and mutagenic potencies of various root canal filling materials in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells in vitro

Cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of root canal filling cements of various ch emical composition were determined in vitro. Materials set for 24 h and 1 w k were eluted for 24 h in cell culture medium (cytotoxicity testing) and di methyl sulfoxide or physiological saline (mutagenicity testing). The differ ences between cytotoxic potencies of eluates of the endodontic materials on L-929 cells were quantified colorimetrically (MTT test). Eluates of Traitm ent SPAD were about 5- to 30-fold more toxic than silver-free AH26, TubliSe al, CRCS, and Endomethsone N. The rank order of the toxic effects depended on the setting time of mixed materials. Dimethyl sulfoxide and saline eluat es of Traitment SPAD, Tubli-Seal, Endomethasone N, CRCS, and Ketac-Endo wer e not mutagenic in the Ames test. Both eluates of silver-free AH26 set for 24 h were weakly mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium TA100. Weak mutagenici ty of saline eluates of the material was also observed in TA97a and TA102. These results point to the possibility that mixed silver-free AH26 might co ntain small amounts of two mutagenic substances: bisphenol A diglycidyl eth er and formaldehyde.