Quantification of elutable substances from methacrylate based sealers and their cytotoxicity effect on with human gingival fibroblasts.

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that resin composites may cause persistent inflammation of oral or pulpal tissues as well as cell death through eluted substances. The aim of this study was to investigate the leaching of ingredients from commercial dental fissure sealers as well as their cytotoxic effects on human gingival fibroblast (HGF).
Methods: The sealers tested were: Helioseal(®) F, Helioseal(®) Refill, Fissurit(®) F, Grandio(®) Seal, Ultraseal XT(®) plus and Delton(®) FS. Ten discs of each sealer were respectively immersed in methanol or water and incubated at 37°C. The eluates were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry at day 1, 3 and 7. In the XTT-test, eight discs of each fissure sealer were immersed into medium. The eluates of the respective sealer were mixed and used undiluted and diluted with medium. HGF were incubated with the dilutions at 37°C for 24h. Then XTT-salt was added and the XTT-formazan formation was quantified.
Results: In eluates from polymerized sealers, comonomers (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA)) and additives were found (e.g. camphorquinone (CQ), butylated hydroxytoluene, triphenylstibane). 7 d after the beginning of the experiments the highest amount of TEGDMA was found in the aqueous eluate from Grandio(®) Seal (9944.31 (2250.56) μmol/l). The most cytotoxic eluate found in the XTT-test was from Fissurit(®) F (EC50 value at 27.13 (7.04)%; (mean(SD)).
Significance: Because of the use of sealers in preventative dental medicine it should be taken into account that substances like TEGDMA or CQ, that are often causing allergic reactions, are elutable. Before using the sealers patients should be asked for allergic reactions to these substances.
(Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)