GENOTOXICITY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF CBCT X-RAYS IN ORAL EXFOLIATED CELLS OF ADULTS

Background Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has become an important diagnostic tool in dentistry but has the disadvantage of exposing the patient to ionizing radiation, which may induce base damage, single- and double-strand breaks, and DNA protein crosslinks. Objective The aim of this study was to assess cytologic evidence of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of x-rays in the oral exfoliated cells of adults subjected to partial and total (stitching module) CBCT by determining micronuclei frequency, associated with counting of degenerative nuclear alterations (pyknosis, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, buds, and broken eggs), and comparing partial and total (stitching module) CBCT in search of possible differences in the nature and/or intensity of the effects. Methods Thirty adults who were referred for total or partial CBCT were selected. Material collection was performed immediately before scanning and 10 days later, by scraping the vestibular mucosa with a plastic spatula. Statistical analysis was performed by using the paired t test for intragroup analysis and Student's t test for the intergroup data, with a significance level of 5%. Results No statistically significant difference was noted in the mean frequency of micronucleated cells before and after partial CBCT (P = .403). However, there was a significant difference in micronucleus frequency before and after total CBCT (P = .003). With regard to cytotoxicity, there was a statistically significant difference between partial and total acquisitions (P = .007 and P Discussion/Conclusions Only total CBCT seems to have a risk of inducing genetic damage, although both forms of CT scanning have promoted the induction of cytotoxic nuclear alterations.