tetracycline and formocresol

To assess the genotoxicity of 14 chemical agents used as locally applied agents in dental practice, the ability of these agents to elicit chromosome aberrations was examined using Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. Chromosome aberrations in SHE cells were induced by treatment with three of eight chemical agents used as endodontic medicaments, i.e. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), formocresol (a mixture of formalin and tricresol), and sodium arsenite. The other five chemical agents, i.e. chloramphenicol, p-chlorophenol, p-phenolsulfonic acid, sodium hypochlorite, and tetracycline hydrochloride exhibited a negative response for chromosome aberrations. Assessment of three dyes used for disclosing dental plaque showed chromosome aberrations induced by basic fuchsin but not by acid fuchsin and erythrosine B. Three local anesthetics, lidocaine hydrochloride, prilocaine hydrochloride, and procaine hydrochloride, were negative for chromosome aberrations. Among the ten chemical agents that exhibited a negative response in the assay, p-chlorophenol, sodium hypochlorite, and erythrosine B induced chromosome aberrations in SHE cells when treated in the presence of exogenous metabolic activation. The percentages of cells with polyploidy or endoreduplication were enhanced by formocresol, sodium arsenite, p-chlorophenol, p-phenolsulfonic acid, sodium hypochlorite, erythrosine B, prilocaine hydrochloride, and procaine hydrochloride in the absence or presence of exogenous metabolic activation. Our results indicate that the chemical agents that had a positive response in the present study are potentially genotoxic to mammalian cells.

Topics: Anesthetics; Animals; Arsenites; Benzenesulfonates; Chloramphenicol; Chlorophenols; Chromosome Aberrations; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Cricetinae; Dental Disinfectants; Dental Materials; Edetic Acid; Embryo, Mammalian; Formocresols; Gene Duplication; Mesocricetus; Mutagens; Polyploidy; Root Canal Irrigants; Sodium Compounds; Sodium Hypochlorite; Tetracycline

Apexification with calcium hydroxide is a routine procedure. However, some clinical reports suggest that root completion can occur by controlling the infection without use of a catalyst. The present study investigated the use of tetracycline treatment (in root canals) on root growth in immature teeth, rendered non-vital experimentally. Incisors in 3 young baboons were exposed and canals were left open. After 2 months all canals were cleaned and treated with either tetracycline or formocresol. Some canals in each group were filed. Animals were sacrificed after 6 months. Bacterial evaluations were done before placing medications, one week later and six months after that. The number of bacteria were reduced in all treatment groups. Root growth almost near completion was observed in more teeth treated with tetracycline than in the formocresol group.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Colony Count, Microbial; Dental Pulp Cavity; Female; Formocresols; Incisor; Male; Papio; Root Canal Irrigants; Root Canal Therapy; Tetracycline; Tooth Apex