Published online Nov 20, 2013. doi: 10.5321/wjs.v2.i4.86
Revised: August 5, 2013
Accepted: August 20, 2013
Published online: November 20, 2013
Processing time: 158 Days and 23.1 Hours
AIM: To evaluate the direct and indirect biocompatibility of Filtek Silorane on human gingival fibroblastic cells.
METHODS: Sixty-three standardized cylindrical specimens (8 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness) of restorative material were prepared using a light emitting diode-curing unit. The sample were built up in one increment and divided in 2 groups. In the first group, 21 samples (unpolished samples) were left without a specific polishing procedure; in the second one, 42 samples (polished samples) were polished with 4 different grains of discs. Fibroblast cultures, obtained from gingiva of 2 subjects without systemic and oral disease, were used to assess the direct and indirect biocompatibility. Cells cultured for 48 h in normal culture medium were used as a control.
RESULTS: The scanning electron microscope observations of fibroblasts cultured on the silorane samples, either polished or unpolished, confirmed the good biocompatibility of the material, favouring the cellular spreading. 3-dimethylthiazol-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide tests showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01) of gingival fibroblasts viability cultured both in polished samples (90.05% ± 19.00%) and unpolished samples (78.15% ± 11.00%) compared with the control. Cells growth in medium conditioned with the samples for 1 wk showed a significant viability reduction (P < 0.01) compared to the control. A reduction of cell viability was observed even in the groups containing the material for 3 wk (polished: 89.45% ± 10.00%; unpolished: 65.97% ± 10.00%), even if the cytotoxicity was reduced after this long time exposure.
CONCLUSION: Although the poor chromatic availability of this material remains a big limit that restricts its use to posterior sectors, the silorane-based material can be considered an option to perform restorations when aesthetic demands are not the priority, such as the class II restorations
Core tip: The behaviour of silorane-based materials seems to be comparable to the one observed for conventional composite material, thus decreasing the cytotoxicity after long time exposure. Further studies are still needed to characterize the biological response of these methacrylate-free composite formulations, in order to definitely demonstrate their safe use in restorative dentistry.