Silver diamine fluoride: A stem cell cytotoxicity and dentin growth factor release in-vitro study.

Aim: To investigate the effect of 38% SDF and its serial dilutions on the Stem cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth (SHED) and its ability to release growth factors from deciduous dentine.

Methods: The viability of SHED post-exposure to 38%, 3.8%, 0.38%, 0.038%, and 0.0038% SDF were assessed at 2, 5, and 7 days using the CyQuant assay, and results were validated using the MTT assay. The osteogenic differentiation of the cells was also investigated post-exposure to 0.0038% SDF. The release of the growth factors; TGF-β1, FGF-b, BMP-2, and VEGF from deciduous dentin discs exposed to 38% SDF, 0.0038% SDF, Ca(OH)2, MTA, and 17% EDTA were examined using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using means and standard deviations (p < 0.05). Two-way ANOVA compared the means of more than two groups with Tukey's multiple comparison test. The unpaired t-test was also used to compare the differences between the two data sets.

Conclusion: 38% SDF released dentinogenic growth factors from dentin discs, potentially explaining its role in reactionary dentinogenesis. Moreover, 0.0038% SDF resulted in a non-cytotoxic concentration that enhanced cellular proliferation and released bioactive molecules from dentin comparable to the 38% concentration. After further investigations, the 0.0038% dilution of SDF could present itself as a clinical concentration.