Cytogenetic biomonitoring in patients exposed to dental X-rays: comparison between adults and children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) of exfoliated buccal mucosa cells from children and adults following dental X-ray exposure.


METHODS
A total of 17 adults and 17 children submitted to panoramic dental radiography were included in this study.


RESULTS
The results indicated no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in children's micronucleated oral mucosa cells before and after dental X-ray exposure. In the same way, no mutagenic effects were observed in adults following X-ray exposure. On the other hand, X-rays increased other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis in both groups. The comparative analysis between children and adults demonstrated no statistically significant differences in micronucleus frequency or cytotoxicity (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, these data indicate that dental paroramic radiography may not be a factor that induces chromosomal damage, but it is able to promote cytotoxicity. It seems that children are not more susceptible to the noxious activities induced by X-rays when compared with adults.
Ribeiro
D A
DA
Departamento de Biosiências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, Av. Ana Costa 95, 11060-001, Santos - SP, Brazil. daribeiro@unifesp.br
de Oliveira
G
G
de Castro
Gm
G
Angelieri
F
F
D000328:Adult; D016923:Cell Death; D002648:Child; D004249:DNA Damage; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric