Method: Ten disc from each material were fabricated in sterile Teflon molds and 24h-eluates were obtained from each root repair material in cell culture media after 1 or 3-day setting. Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts were plated at a density of 5.000/well. For indirect toxicity assay, fibroblasts were incubated for 24h with 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8 concentrations of eluates. Cell viability was evaluated by XTT assay. Cell viabilities were calculated as percentage relative to the cell control. The impact of materials, eluate concentration and setting time on cytotoxicity of fibroblasts was statistically analyzed using univariate analysis of variance followed by post hoc tukey test (σ= 0.05).
Result: Vitrebond and IRM were significantly more cytotoxic than other root repair materials (p<0.05). Cells exposed to eluates from Biodentine and Dyract Compomer showed the highest survival rates of fibroblasts. ProRoot MTA, MM MTA, SDR and PMMA bone cement exhibited similar cell viability (p>0.05). Three-day old samples were more cytotoxic than 1-day old samples (p<0.05). Eluates from the cements at 1:1 dilution were significantly more cytotoxic than that eluates at 1:2, 1:4 or 1:8 dilution (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This in vitro study demonstrated that Biodentine and Compomer are more biocompatible than the other root repair materials. Biocompatibility of Biodentine could be attributed to active biosilicate technology that eliminates the metal impurities which MTA cements inherently have.