Main

Springer IN, Niehoff P et al. Oral Oncol 2005; 41; 723–728

This study suggests that irradiation does not have a direct effect on dental hard tissues, but may affect the pulp.

Ionizing radiation has well-known indirect effects on dental tissues by damaging salivary glands and reducing the protection of saliva against caries. Where salivary glands can be shielded, this effect can be reduced. This study of 80 extracted caries-free third molars from 36 patients aged 16–63 was to investigate whether radiation could have direct effects on dental tissues.

Half the teeth were exposed to 6.3 Gy per day for 5 days, and the rest were controls. Cementum was removed from roots, which were then separated from crowns. Pulps and dentine were pooled separately.

No difference in collagen structure was found in irradiated mineralised tissue, but collagen fragments were over 3 times as common in irradiated pulp. The authors suggest this effect may contribute to caries.