Background: This study investigated cytotoxic probability, osteogenic potential, and antibacterial efficacy of two pulp-capping hydraulic calcium-silicate cements.
Materials and methods: For osteogenic potential and cytotoxicity evaluation, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and materials disc-shaped specimens were used. Increase or decrease in a number of proliferating MSCs was calculated after three intervals. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in osteogenic media were normalized to the total protein content of cells and measured spectrophotometrically. Antibacterial efficiency through growth curves of Streptococcus mutans in direct contact with tested materials.
Results: Biodentine showed the highest number of proliferating MSCs (278000.41 ± 4000.06, after 72 h) and the highest concentration of ALP after 12 days (209.26 ± 7.17 μU/μg protein). It showed the lowest slope (0.003 ± 0.0005) of S. mutans strains growth curves after 18 h.
Conclusion: Biodentine proved a highly significant osteogenic ability and gave a significant reduction of S. mutans growth.
Keywords: Antibacterial efficiency; cytotoxicity; hydraulic cements; osteogenic potential.