Effect of heat treatment on cytotoxicity of self-adhesive resin cements: Cell viability analysis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess, in vitro, the influence on cytotoxicity of heat treatment applied before photopolymerization, while mixing three self-adhesive resin cements, in an NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell culture, based on cell viability measures. METHODS: Samples were divided into three groups: (1) no heat treatment while mixing (control), (2) 37°C, and (3) 60°C heat treatment while mixing. Cements were light-cured immediately after mixing and immersed in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Media for the extraction of possibly uncured products after 24 h and 7 days. Cultures contained 0.5 mL of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts per well at a concentration of 0.4 × 10(5) cells/mL and specific extracts for each sample. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were statistically analyzed with ANOVA and post hoc Student–Newman–Keuls (significance of 5%). RESULTS: Cement cytotoxicity increased with time, as shown by the higher values observed at 7 days. There was a slight difference in intragroup cytotoxicity levels between 24 h and 7 days. Heat treatment at 60°C was associated with a major decrease in cytotoxicity levels in all three groups, both at 24 h and at 7 days, with no differences among the cements. CONCLUSIONS: Heat treatment at 60°C should be considered as a strategy to reduce cytotoxicity of self-adhesive resin cements, as evidenced by the results observed at 24 h and 7 days of analysis.