A STUDY ON THE CYTOTOXICITY OF THE ROOT CANAL SEALERS

근관충전용(根管充塡用) sealer의 세포독성(細胞毒性)에 관한 연구(硏究)

Four root canal sealers, Apatite Root Sealer I and II composed mainly of hydroxyapatite/tricalciumphosphate, Sealapex containing calcium hydroxide, and Roth Sealer composed of zinc oxide - eugenol were compared on the culture of L929 fibroblasts. MIT (Methyl Thiazole Tetrazolium Bromide) colorimetric technique was used to measure the mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. Results were as follows: 1. Hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate mixed sealers were significantly less toxic compared with calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide - eugenol type sealers. High pH of the calcium hydroxide sealer and release of eugenol component from the zinc oxide - eugenol type sealer were presumed to be the cause of the toxicity of these two sealers. In no cases, there were more cytoblastic effects in hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate mixed sealers compared to the control groups. 2. In all experimental groups, toxicity was decreased as dilutions were increased. However in zinc oxide-eugenol type sealer the cell activity was weakened for all dilution groups. 3. Regarding the effect of setting time, Apatite I and Sealapex were less toxic as the setting progressed. Apatite II kept constant regardless of the different time ellapsed after setting but Roth sealer revealed significantly higher toxicity for all experimental groups. 4. Comparing two different culture periods of 24 hours and 72 hours, Apatite I showed higher cell activities in longer period(72 hours) while Apatite II did not. Sealapex and Roth sealer, however, showed significantly lower cell activities in longer period.