Ideal root end filling materials should have good physical and chemical properties, and the most important is that the material should be biocompatible with periradicular tissue. The biocompatibility of three root end filling materials, mineral trioxide aggregate, calcium hydroxide-based cement, and eugenol-based cement, were investigated in vitro by culturing extracts of these materials with human osteogenic sarcoma cells (U2OS). Extracts of each of the materials were made after incubation of the materials for 1 day and 1 week with complete McCoy's medium. The extracts were serially diluted and then incubated with U2OS cells for 24 and 48 h. Cell survival rates were assessed by means of a viability assay for mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. Differences in mean cell survival rates were statistically assessed using one-way ANOVA. Results showed that the survival rates of U2OS cells were largest with mineral trioxide aggregate, followed by calcium hydroxide-based cement and eugenol-based cement at 24- and 48-h exposures using the 1-day and 1-week extracts. The duration of root end filling material extraction time and treatment time showed variable influence on the survival rates. The results suggest that mineral trioxide aggregate is more biocompatible than the other root end filling materials and is suitable for use in the clinical setting.
Copyright 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.