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

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% H2O2 for 2 min); G3: Brix 3000 (TM) (BX) for 30 s; G4: BX for 2 min; G5: Papacarie Duo (TM) (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 (TM) enzymatic agent did not cause indirect cytotoxic effects on pulp cells, regardless of the application time. Conversely, Papacarie Duo (TM) reduced viability and increased ROS production by pulp cells.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the transdentinal cytotoxic effects of enzymatic agents for chemomechanical carious tissue removal on human dental pulp cells. The results showed that the Brix3000 (TM) enzymatic agent did not cause indirect cytotoxic effects on pulp cells, regardless of the application time. In contrast, Papacarie Duo (TM) reduced viability and increased ROS production by pulp cells.