Cytocompatibility of periodontal dressing materials in fibroblast and primary human osteoblast-like cultures.

Purpose of this investigation was to determine the cytocompatibility of various periodontal dressing materials by means of human primary gingival fibroblasts (HGF), human osteoblast-like cells (HObl) derived from the alveolar bone, and permanent 3T3 mouse fibroblasts (3T3). Cell culture medium extracts (time periods of extraction: day 1 and between day 2 and day 8 after setting) as well as solid specimens of the following materials were investigated: Coe-pak, Voco pac, Peripac, and Barricaid. Responses of cultures exposed for 24 h and 48 h to these materials were monitored by the fluorescent dyes H33342 and sulforhodamin 101 as well as by light microscopy. It was found that most extracts of Voco pac, Peripac, and Barricaid did not inhibit growth of HGF. Coe-Pak, however, clearly reduced the proliferation of HGF compared to untreated controls. Peripac decreased growth of HObl whereas Coe-Pak, Voco pac, and Barricaid caused no cytotoxic alterations in any of the test assays. Contrary to HGF and HObl, 3T3 cells were much more irritated by the test materials. But the light-curing resinous material Barricaid reduced proliferation of 3T3-fibroblasts only slightly. Our data indicate that Barricaid is exceedingly cytocompatible, whereas all other materials revealed moderate or severe cytotoxic effects according to the cell type.