The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiopacity and cytotoxicity of three resin-based (AH 26, EZ fill and AD Seal), a zinc oxide-eugenol-based (ZOB Seal), and a calcium hydroxide-based (Sealapex) root canal sealers. Specimens, 10 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness, were radiographed simultaneously with an aluminum step wedge using occlusal films, according to ISO 6876/2001 standards. Radiographs were digitized, and the radiopacity of sealers was compared to the different thicknesses of the aluminum step wedge, using the Scion image software. Using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the cytotoxicity of each material was determined in immortalized human periodontal ligament (IPDL) cells.

The results demonstrated that EZ fill was the most radiopaque sealer, while Sealapex was the least radiopaque (p < 0.05). AH 26, AD Seal and ZOB Seal presented intermediate radiopacity values. All the materials evaluated, except for Sealapex, presented the minimum radiopacity required by ISO standards. The cell viabilities of resin-based root canal sealers were statistically higher than that of other type of root canal sealers through the all experimental time. Further, EZ fill showed statistically lower cell viability in 24 and 48 hours compared to AD Seal and in 72 hours compared to all other resin-based root canal sealers. However, there was no correlation between the radiopacity and cytotoxicity of three resin-based root canals sealers (p > 0.05).

These results indicate that resin-based root canal sealer is more biocompatible and has advantage in terms of radiopacity.

The purpose of this study was to examine the viability of PDL cells in rat molars by using in vivo MTT assay, which was used to compare fast cryopreservation group by liquid nitrogen (-196℃) with 4℃ cold preservation group.

A total of 74 Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old with a body weight of 100 grams were used. The maxillary left and right, first and second molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under ketamine anesthesia.

Ten teeth of each group were divided as six experimental groups depending upon the preservation. Cryopreservation groups were Group 1 (5% DMSO 6% HES in F medium), Group 2 (10% DMSO in F medium), Group 3 (5% DMSO 6% HES in Viaspan®), Group 4 (10% DMSO in Viaspan®) which were cryopreserved for 1 week and cold preservation groups were Group 5 (F medium), Group 6 (Viaspan®) at 4℃ for 1 week. Immediate extraction group was used as a control. After preservation and thawing, the in vivo MTT assay was processed. Two way ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test was performed at the 95% level of confidence. Another 2 teeth of each group were treated as the same manner and frozen sections 10 µm thick for microscopic observation.

The value of optical density obtained after in vivo MTT analysis was divided by the value of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization. Group 1, 2 had significantly higher optical density than Group 3 and 4 which had the lowest OD value. Group 6 had higher OD value than in Group 5 (P < 0.05). Histological findings of periodontal ligament cell, after being stained with MTT solution were consistent with the in vivo MTT assay results.

In this study, the groups which were frozen with DMSO as a cryoprotectant and the groups with F medium showed the best results.

The purpose of this study is to examine the viability of PDL cells in rat molars by using MTT assay and to verify the MTT assay through the histologic observation. Thirty of Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4-weeks old with a body weight of about 100 grams were used. Groupings are as follows:

Immediate Group : Positive control group(n=10)-after extraction immediately.

Dried Group : Negative control group(n=10)-after drying for an hour under warm dry.

ViaSpan® Group : 1hour ViaSpan® group(n=10)-after storing in ViaSpan® at 4℃ for 1hour.

Ten teeth of each group were treated as same as above and replanted to the original socket of experimental animals. After two weeks of replantation, all the experimental animals were sacrificed. And after fixation, extracted maxillary jaw was dimineralized. After it was embedded in paraffin, serial section by 5µm was carried out and for construction of specimen, hematoxylin-eosin dye was used.

The mean MTT measurement of immediate group(positive control) is 2.81 and the mean measurement of dried group(negative control) is 0.98 which is significant differnt(P<0.05). The mean measurement of ViaSpan® group is 2.65 and there is significant difference between dried group and ViaSpan® group(P<0.05). However, there is no difference between immediate group and ViaSpan® group. The average resorption points of immediate group is 3.03 points. In the dried group, average 6.44 points resorption and 2.68 points showed resorption in the ViaSpan® group. Unlike with MTT assay, there was no significant difference between the immediate group and ViaSpan® group.

The usage of MTT assay as a viable cell marker may give us a better indication of the maintenance of periodontal ligament cell vitality.