Biocompatibility and acid resistance of preformed crowns in children: an in vitro study

TL;DR

This study examined how well preformed pediatric crowns work with human cells and resist acid, finding some materials may release harmful ions.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel in vitro evaluation of biocompatibility and acid resistance of pediatric crown materials.

Findings

Stainless steel and composite resin showed declining cell viability and higher cytotoxicity over time.

Veneered-preformed metal crowns released significant metallic ions like copper, iron, and nickel.

Monolithic zirconia and premetal crowns showed minimal ion release.

Abstract

To investigate the in vitro biocompatibility of human gingival fibroblasts with preformed paediatric crowns and resistance to acid exposure at levels that simulate the oral environment.

This laboratory study investigated primary HGFs viability, metabolic activity, cytotoxicity, and apoptotic events on preformed metal crown discs, composite resin-coated wells, and monolithic zirconia fragments at 24, 48, and 72 h using the ApoTox-Glo Triplex assay. The PPCs were also immersed in 0.1% lactic acid, 0.2% phosphoric acid, or 10% citric acid for 7 days at 37 °C to reproduce conditions associated with dietary intake or gastric reflux. Samples were then subject to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry to quantitate the release of ions.

The viability of HGFs on stainless steel and CR significantly declined at 48 and 72 h, representing potential cytotoxicity (p < 0.05). Cytotoxicity of HGFs was also higher for stainless steel and ZR compared to control (p < 0.05). PMCs and ZR crowns gave minimal ion release. Meanwhile, significant quantities of metallic ions, including copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), were present in eluates from veneered-preformed metal crowns.

As PPCs can be exposed to highly acidic environments for many years, thus the release of metallic ions from V-PMCs should form the further investigation in future studies.

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