Cell recovery from the cytotoxic effects of 13 commercial dental alloys of Japan and the People's Republic of China was examined in vitro using four kinds of tissue culture cells (Gin-1, HEp-2, Chang Liver, L-929). Cell recovery was observed after 7 days of incubation following treatment for 48 hours with extracts of the alloys. Cell recovery was evaluated by photo-pattern analysis and protein content (L-929). The amount of dissolved metal ions was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Of the alloys examined, Cu-Al-Ni alloy yielded low cell recovery, while none of the other alloys, i.e., Ni-Cr alloys, Co-Cr alloys, Ag-Pd-Au alloys, Ag-Sn alloys, Ag-In alloys, Ti-Ni alloys and Fe-Cr-Ni alloys had an adverse effect on cell recovery. This was confirmed by measurements of metal ions in the extracts. The relationship between the results of cell recovery tests and the amount of metal ions dissolved, and the usefulness of the cell recovery test to the evaluation of cytotoxicity of biomaterials were discussed.