Evaluation of Cytotoxicity of Dentin Desensitizing Products

Objectives: To evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the dentin desensitizing products (DDPs) used in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity on cultured human gingival and pulpal fibroblast cells. Methods and Materials: The cytotoxic effects of DDPs (Smart Protect, Systemp Desensitizer, Seal & Protect, Aqua-Prep F, Isodan, Gluma, BisBlock, D/Sense Crystal, UltraEZ, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, Topex, and Clinpro White Varnish) on cultured human gingival-and pulp-derived fibroblast cells were evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-di-phenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test (Serva, Heidelberg, Germany) under two different conditions. In the first test, different dilutions of the DDPs were directly applied onto cultured gingival fibroblast cells, and in the second test, the products were applied onto different-thickness dentin discs (0.5 and 1 mm) placed above cell culture medium, which contained pulp fibroblast cells. Results: According to the cytotoxicity evaluations of gingival fibroblast cells, the cytotoxicity of all of the DDPs was very high at 50% concentrations (p < 0.05). Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, Clinpro White Varnish, and Topex showed higher cytotoxicity than did the other products (p < 0.05), decreasing with further dilutions, and these products were found to be less cytotoxic to both types of cells (p < 0.05) than were the other products with further dilutions. The cytotoxicity to human gingival and pulpal fibroblast cells of Systemp Desensitizer, Aqua-Prep F, Isodan, and Gluma did not show any decrease with further dilutions, and these products were found to be more cytotoxic than the other products (p < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, Topex, and Clinpro White Varnish were less cytotoxic than the other DDPs used in this study.