A commercially available cell culture device modified for dentin barrier tests.

The suitability of a dentin barrier test based on a commercially available cell culture chamber was evaluated by testing the cytotoxicity of dental cements. The two chambers of the culture device as produced are separated by a membrane. This was replaced by a bovine dentin disk (500 micrometers thick). Mouse fibroblasts were grown on the "pulpal" side of the dentin for 24 h; test materials were then placed into the "cavity" side of the upper chamber. The number of viable cells was determined after 24 h. After exposure to zinc phosphate cement at a powder/liquid ratio of 2:1, approximately 100% of cells survived. A ratio of 1:1 yielded 81% survival. Only 24% and 28% of the cells survived after exposure to Ketac Fil and Ketac Silver, respectively. The light-curing glass ionomer cement (vitrebond) and zinc oxide-eugenol killed all cells. These results agree with those obtained from a previous study, wherein the dentin barrier test device was constructed in our laboratory.