An evaluation of the cytotoxic effects of orthodontic bonding adhesives upon a primary human oral gingival fibroblast culture and a permanent, human oral cancer-cell line.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the cytotoxic effects of three different kinds of orthodontic adhesive on a human primary gingival fibroblast culture (GF) and a human oral cancer-cell line (OC2). The adhesives comprised a self-cure bonding resin, a light-cure bonding resin, and a hybrid glass ionomer. Any differences between the cytotoxic potencies of eluates of the orthodontic materials on GF and OC2 cells were quantified colorimetrically (MTT test). The results are as follows: For the hybrid glass ionomer, the survival rate of GF cells exposed to the liquid component revealed a significant dose-dependent decrease (p < 0.05). The liquid component and the mixed hybrid glass-ionomer material reflected a significant dose-dependent decrease (p < 0.05) in exposed OC2 cell survival. Associated with an increase in the cell exposure concentration of Resin A, Resin B, Paste A, Paste B, Resin A + B, Paste A + B and the set material of the self-cure resin adhesive, was a significant decrease in survival rate for cultured GF and OC2 cells (p < 0.05). Associated with an increase in the concentration of the primer, paste, and mixed material of the light-cure resin adhesive to which test cells were exposed, the survival rate reflected a decrease for GF cells (p < 0.05). The survival rate of cells exposed to light-cure resin paste reflected no difference for OC2 cells. It is concluded that the liquid of the hybrid glass-ionomer cement, Resin A and Resin B and Resin A + B of the self-cure resin and the primer of the light-cure resin are toxic agents to the GF and OC2 cell lines. Primary human gingival fibroblasts were found to be more sensitive than the tested human oral carcinoma cell line from most of the substances. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.