Objective: This study investigated the long-term cytotoxic response of thermoplastic polyamide and conventional polymethyle metacrylate (PMMA) denture base materials.
Materials and methods: Twenty discs were prepared for each polyamide, heat and cold cured PMMA denture base resins (totally 60) and divided into four sub-groups (n = 5). Cytotoxicity was assessed with the direct cell contact method using cell viability and neutral red (NR) uptake assay. Each sub-group was tested at initial and after being aged for 24 h, 1 week and 8 weeks with artificial saliva according to ISO 10993 standards.
Results: There were no significantly difference among the materials and control groups after initial, 24 h and 1 week testing. In 24 h testing, only Deflex was more toxic according to the Control group (p < 0.05). After 8 weeks of aging with artificial saliva, all materials were significantly cytotoxic when compared to the control group. QC20 was more toxic than Deflex and SC Cold Cure (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between the 8 week aging group and the initial, 24 h and 1 week testing for all materials (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Cytotoxicity of all tested denture base materials increased significantly after the long-term aging. Therefore, long-term aging may be useful to determine a dental material's toxicity. Polyamide denture base material had a similar toxicity profile with conventional heat- and cold-cured PMMA.