Genotoxic effects of Ionizing radiation in children

Objectives: Ionizing radiation from dental radiographs were thought to cause permanent genetic changes , Understanding the extent of these changes is necessary to find a solution for the genetic defects. The objective was to evaluate these changes using Micronucleus frequency in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells before and after exposure to Bitewing and Panoramic radiographs in children
Methods: Study comprised 40 systemically healthy children. They were further divided to 20 children for bitewing radiographs as Group-1 and other 20 children selected for Digital dental panoramic radiographs as Group-2, who were referred to the department of Pedodontics and preventive dentistry as part of diagnostic procedure with the age group of children ranging between 6-12 years. The collected exfoliated buccal mucosal cells were obtained by scraping the right/left buccal mucosa with a wooden spatula immediately before the X-ray exposure and 10 (+/- 2) days after exposure and further viewed under fluorescence microscope with Feulgen staining method. Micronucleus was identified using Buccal Micronucleus Cytome Assay Analysis.
Results: The data obtained for both the groups Group 1 pre X ray radiation and post X -ray radiation and for Group 2 pre X ray radiation and post Xray radiation were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using Mann-Whitney test. The result showed a higher number of mean cells with micronucleus, recorded in Group 2 compared to Group 1 and the difference between them was statistically significant (P<0.001).
Conclusions: It is concluded that frequency of micronucleus in the buccal mucosa cell increases with increase in radiation.