title: Micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies in buccal mucosa following exposure to X-ray radiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate DNA damage and cellular death in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells from healthy individuals following dental X-ray exposure, to compare effects of different types of radiographic techniques using the buccal cytome assay and to standardize the staining procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised 90 patients, categorized into 3 groups subjected to intraoral periapical radiography, conventional orthopantomogram and digital orthopantomogram X-ray exposure. Exfoliated oral mucosa cells were collected immediately before the X-ray and 10 days later and stained using DNA-specific stains and nonspecific DNA stains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated no statistically significant differences in micronucleated cells before and after dental X-ray exposure. On the other hand, X-ray exposure did increase other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity, such as karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that dental radiography may not induce chromosomal damage, but it is able to promote cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Annoor Dental College, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Pratibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramani
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Premkumar
authors.forename: Anuja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natesan
authors.forename: Herald J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sherlin
authors.forename: Thiruvengadam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chandrasekar
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects*