Evaluating The Effect Of Propofol Exposure to Newborn Rats on Tooth Development

Objectives: The aim of this study is evaluating of the potantial effects of propofol on developing teeth.
Methods: 30 newborn rats were assigned to 3 study groups and 1 control group. On postnatal day 2 and 4, 20 mg/kg propofol for the first study group, 40 mg/kg propofol for the second study group, 75 mg/kg propofol for the third study group and %0.9 steril saline for control group was applied. At postnatal day 42, the rats were sacrificed and histological and radiological examination were performed on the mandibles. Left mandibular bones were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution after sacrification for histological examination, stored in 5% formic acid for demineralization, processed with increasing alcohol series, stored in toluene, embedded in parafin blocks and taken sections. The specimens were examined with a light microscope and photographed. Right mandibular bones were scanned with a high-resolution micro-computerized tomography (micro CT) device for radiological examinations. Dentin thickness, pulp chamber lenght, pulp chamber width, root length, root thickness, level of eruption, number of roots and root canals were measured on the post imaging sections.
Results: As a result of the study, unlike the control group in all study groups, histologically calcification fields were found in the predentin layer. A statistically significant difference was found between study and control groups in the measurement of dentin thicknesses in Micro CT scan results (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the study and control groups in the measurement of the pulp chamber length (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between all groups according to the other measurement results (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Findings suggest that propofol application during dental development may affect tooth development.