BackgroundThe purpose of the present study was to compare the biological and the physico-chemical properties of bioceramic-based root canal sealers, calcium hydroxide-based, MTA-based and epoxy resin-based root canal sealers.Material and MethodsTwo bioceramic-based sealers, one calcium hydroxide-based sealer, one MTA-based sealer and two epoxy resin-based sealers were tested.ResultsEasySeal and MTA Fillapex showed severe citotoxic activity, AH Plus and SealapexTM moderate cytotoxicity, BioRoot™ RCS and TotalFill BC Sealer were both cytocompatible. Except for TotalFill BC Sealer, all root canal sealers caused inhibition zones when tested with E. faecalis. The highest inhibition zone was observed for EasySeal, followed by AH Plus. BioRoot™ RCS, SealapexTM and MTA Fillapex showed the lowest inhibition zone. All the tested materials showed different degree of antibacterial activity by using direct contact test (DCT). The highest values were observed for BioRoot™ RCS, TotalFill BC Sealer and EasySeal, followed by MTA Fillapex and SealapexTM. Except for BioRoot RCS and TotalFill BC Sealer, all the root canal sealers fulfilled the requirements of the ISO 6876 standard, demonstrating a weight loss less than 3%. Bioroot RCS, TotalFill BC Sealer and SealapexTM exhibited high alkaline pH with an increase both for BioRoot™ RCS and TotalFill BC Sealer after 24 hours.ConclusionsThe new bioceramic-based sealers showed acceptable physico-chemical properties, but BioRoot™ RCS and TotalFill BC Sealer seems to be too soluble, not respecting ISO 6876 requirements. Key words:Antibacterial activity, cytoxicity, pH, root canal sealers, solubility.

BackgroundThe aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare the cytotoxic effects of eight root canal sealers (BioRoot RCS, TotalFill BC Sealer, MTA Fillapex, Sealapex, AH Plus, EasySeal, Pulp Canal Sealer, N2) on immortalized human gingival fibroblasts over a period of 24, 48 and 72 hours.Material and MethodsImmortalized human gingival fibroblast-1 HGF-1 (ATCC CRL-2014) were incubated. Root canal sealers were then placed into sterile, cylindrical Teflon moulds. The extraction was made eluting the sealers in cell culture medium. Cells (1 × 104) were seeded in each well of a 96-well plate and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. Cultures were then exposed to 100 μL of the extracts medium. The percentage of viable cells in each well was calculated relative to control cells set to 100%.ResultsBioRoot RCS and TotalFill BC Sealer extracted for 24h showed no cytotoxic effect, while it was mild by using 48 and 72 h extracts. No cytotoxic effect was measured by using AH Plus medium eluted for 24 h, while it was moderate after 48 h and severe after 72 h. Pulp Canal Sealer, Sealapex and N2 showed moderately cytotoxic activity for all the extraction times. EasySeal and MTA Fillapex remained severely or borderline mildly cytotoxic for all the extraction times.ConclusionsIn the present study only BioRoot RCS, TotalFill BC Sealer and AH Plus showed no cytotoxic effects at least in the first 24h. All the other sealers revealed moderately or severely cytotoxic activity during all the extraction times. Key words:Cytotoxicity, gingival fibroblast, MTT test, root canal sealer.

The search for materials able to remineralize human hard tissues is a modern medical challenge. In this study, the protective effect on the enamel microhardness by a paste based on hydroxyapatite and sodium fluoride (Remin Pro) was evaluated after two different enamel bleaching procedures. Forty sound human incisors were randomly assigned to different treatments: bleaching with an in-office agent (Perfect Bleach Office+); bleaching with an at-home agent (Perfect Bleach); bleaching with the in-office agent followed by the prophylaxis paste; bleaching with the at-home agent followed by the prophylaxis paste; no treatment (control). Bleaching was performed at 0, 8, 24 and 32 h, followed by a 3-min re-mineralizing treatment in the subgroups designed to receive it. Specimens underwent a micro-hardness tester and a mean Vickers Hardness number was considered for each specimen. ANOVA exhibited significant differences among groups. Post-hoc Tukey testing showed significant micro-hardness decrease after the application of both the two bleaching agents. The treatment with prophylaxis paste significantly increased the micro-hardness values of bleached enamel.