Elite Implant, a Sterile, Radiopaque and Biocompatible Impression Material

Impression materials are largely used to record the geometry of hard and soft oral tissue. So the evaluation of their cytotoxicity is a necessary step for determining their biocompatibility. The present study was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Elite Implant (Zhermack, Badia Polesine, Rovigo, Italy), a new elastomeric sterile and radiopaque impression material in comparison with daily used impression materials such as polythethers and vinyl polysiloxanes (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany). For that purpose, human gingival fibroblasts, cultured in vitro, were exposed directly or indirectly to a new sterile and radioopaque silicone, Elite Implant supplied in 3 different viscosities, heavy, medium and light. The cytotoxicity of one vinyl polysiloxane, Express PuttyFirmer Set, and of two polyethers, Impregum Penta and Permadyne Penta was evaluated in parallel. At 9, 24 and 48 hours, the cell monolayer, incubated with and without the impression materials, was trypsinized and cells were counted in a haemocytometer. In parallel, human gingival fibroblasts were exposed indirectly by means of fluid extracts of impression materials. The cellular viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Data were analyzed statistically using Student's test.