Toxic effects of two dental materials on human buccal epithelium in vitro and monkey buccal mucosa in vivo.

Confluent cultures of human buccal epithelial cells were exposed to graded dilutions of Gluma Bond or 3M Etching Liquid for 5 min. The cytotoxic effects induced by this treatment were observed (epithelial cell damage, growth inhibition). In vivo, monkey buccal mucosa was exposed to Gluma Bond or 3M Etching Liquid for 5 min. Biopsies were taken after 24 h, and the buccal epithelium processed for light microscopic examination. The toxic reactions to Gluma Bond were far more pronounced compared with the toxic reactions to 3M Etching Liquid in both models. Data obtained suggest that the in vitro model may be useful in assessing mucosal toxicity and in studying mechanisms of toxic action.