Cytotoxicity of intracanal bleaching agents on periodontal ligament cells in vitro

Intracoronal bleaching of nonvital teeth is a simple and conservative procedure for esthetic restoration of discolored teeth. However it is possible that damage to the periodontal ligament may occur if the bleaching agents contact this tissue. The purpose of this study was to examine the cytotoxicity of intracanal bleaching agents on human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells in vitro. Three bleaching agents, 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 2.0 g/ml sodium perborate (SP) solution, and 2.0 g/ml SP in H2O2, were diluted from 10(-3) to 10(-7) with Eagle's minimal essential medium and incubated with PDL cells isolated and cultured from extracted teeth. Cytotoxicity was assessed quantitatively by determining the amount of lactic dehydrogenase activity released from the cells after exposure to the agents for 24 or 72 h. Dose-response curves were plotted, and TD50 values (dilution causing the release of 50% of control lactate dehydrogenase activity) and 95% confidence limits determined. The rank order of the TD50 values after exposure for 24 h was SP in H2O2 (most toxic) > H2O2 > SP solution (least toxic). After 72 h SP in H2O2 still produced the greatest cytotoxic effect. However the SP solution was more cytotoxic than H2O2 at this time point. It is concluded that the mixture of SP with H2O2 was the most toxic to the PDL cells in vitro.