Evaluation of genotoxicity in buccal mucosa of patients subjected to X-rays by degenerative nuclear alterations study

The aim of this study is to explore the genotoxicity of cells obtained from the buccal mucosa in patients who were exposed to dental X-rays using micronucleus analysis. All the subjects underwent a routine oral clinical examination and subjects with any visible or symptomatic change in the buccal mucosa were excluded. Subjects who were expose to X rays in the past 6 months were also excluded. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria a total of 116 subjects were recruited. The included subjects were all nonsmokers. The genotoxicity was studied by micronucleus assay. There was significant difference in the frequency of multinucleated cell numbers from before exposure to after exposure to OPG. In patients having exposed to CBCT, a higher cell turnover was detected. The number of multinucleated cells gradually increases after panoramic radiographs, hence dental X-rays should be prescribed only when absolutely necessary.