A Reproducibility Study of the Model Cavity Method for the In Vitro Toxicity Testing of Dental Restorative Materials

Abstract

A reproducibility study of the model cavity system for evaluating the in vitro cytotoxicity of dental restorative materials was undertaken at Birmingham Dental School and Huntingdon Research Centre. Using a precise experimental protocol drawn up following liaison between the two centres, a number of materials were tested independently. Toxicity was assessed by measurement of reduction in fibroblast and macrophage numbers relative to controls. Overall reproducibility was good, and the ranking of the toxicity of the test materials by both centres was almost identical.