Viability and oxidative stress of dental pulp cells after indirect application of chemomechanical agents: An in vitro study.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study evaluated the transdentinal cytotoxic effects of enzymatic agents (EA) for chemomechanical carious tissue removal on human dental pulp cells. METHODOLOGY: The groups were based on the performed dentine treatments (n = 8) G1 Positive Control (PC - no treatment); G2 Negative Control (NC - 35% H2 O2 for 2 min); G3 Brix 3000™ (BX) for 30 s; G4 BX for 2 min; G5 Papacarie Duo™ (PD) for 30 s; G6 PD for 2 min. The cells were evaluated for viability (VB; MTT assay) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS; DCFH-DA assay) and nitric oxide (NO; Griess reagent). A scanning electron microscope provided morphological chemical analyses and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The data were submitted to the one-way anova statistical test complemented by Tukey (p < .05). RESULTS: Cell viability decreased by 21.1% and 58.4% in G5 and G6, respectively. ROS production in G3 and G4 maintained basal levels but increased by 171.2% and 75.1% in G5 and G6, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Brix3000™ enzymatic agent did not cause indirect cytotoxic effects on pulp cells, regardless of the application time. Conversely, Papacarie Duo™ reduced viability and increased ROS production by pulp cells.