Evaluation of cytotoxicity of Tetraclean and conventional endodontic irrigants

Methods: Mouse embryonic fibroblasts BALB 3T3 were growth in Dulbecco's minimal essential medium and exposed to increasing dilutions of 5% and 2,5% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), 0.2% chlorhexidine and 0-5 mg/ml Tetraclean (Ogna Laboratori Farmaceutici, Italy). After 24 hours, cell mitochondrial activity was evaluated by the methyltetrazolium test (MTT). The results were expressed as the percentage of untreated cells and statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney U-test (p<0.05). Results: All the irrigants decreased cell viability in dose related manner. Cytotoxicity based on concentrations which caused 50% inhibition of cell proliferation (ID50) were ranked as follows: 5% NaOCl (1.1 mg/ml) > 0.2% Clorexidine (1.4 mg/ml) > 2.5% NaOCl (2.0 mg/ml) > Tetraclean (2.3 mg/ml).

Conclusions: Because root-canal irrigants and medications can come in contact with periradicular tissues, in addition to having good antibacterial ability, they also should be biocompatible. Our results demonstrated that Tetraclean is less cytotoxic than other currently used endodontic irrigants.