The Resultant Physiological Effects of Human Gingival Fibroblasts Exposed to Combinations of Dental Adhesives, Porphyromonas Gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide, and Cortisol or Nifedipine.

The needs of dental patients are becoming ever complex. This is largely due to the increasing number of systemic conditions that patients present with during routine or emergency dental visits, such as hypertension and angina pectoris. Medications that patients are prescribed have potential to cause effects on the oral tissues. There is a need to understand the interactions between the oral tissues and materials used to restore teeth. The objective of this study was to assess the physiological function of human gingival fibroblasts upon exposure to dental adhesives; polymethyl methacryate, OptiBond®, and Prime & Bond®; Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide and Cortisol or Nifedipine. An increase in metabolic activity was noted with the experimental group exposed to the combination of Prime & Bond®, LPS-PG, and Nifedipine (P<0.001). Oxidative stress was observed in experimental groups exposed to the combinations of PMMA, LPS-PG, and Cortisol (P<0.001); also noted in all three dental adhesives in combinations with LPS-PG and Nifedipine (P<0.001). Cellular membrane damage was evident in experimental groups exposed to the combinations of PMMA, LPS-PG, and Cortisol; PMMA, LPS-PG, and Nifedipine; and Prime & Bond®, LPS-PG, and Nifedipine. In conclusion, it appears that the addition of Nifedipine in combination with LPS-PG negatively alters cellular function by causing membrane damage and inducing oxidative stress.