A comparative study of the effects of gutta-percha solvents on human osteoblasts and murine fibroblasts

We aimed to investigate the in vitro physiologic effects of xylene, chloroform, orange oil and eucalyptus oil solvents for dissolving gutta-percha on L929 and HOB cell lines; 2.5 and 10 mu L mL(-1) of these solvents were tested for 24, 48 and 72 h. Gutta-percha solvents inhibited the proliferation rate of fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner; however, no inhibition was detected in HOB (evaluated using MTT assay). None of the solvents induced apoptosis/necrosis in HOB cells at <= 2.5 mu L mL(-1) concentration in contrast to L929 (determined using acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining). Each solvent tested reduced the migration rate of both L929 and HOB cell lines in a dose-dependent manner (evaluated using a scratch assay). Gutta-percha solvents can damage fibroblast-rich tissues. Osteoblasts seemed to be more resistant to the tested solvents, and excessive extrusion of solvents from the root canal may also damage the periradicular tissues and reduce the ability to repair.