A study of sister chromatid exchange in patients with dental amalgam restorations

Dental amalgam is still widely used as a restorative material in developing countries due to its low cost and ease of manipulation. The health risks associated with the components of this restorative material has always been a matter of concern. Our study was designed to address this question regarding dental amalgam.

To study sister chromatid exchange (SCE) as an indicator of systemic genotoxicity, due to the exposure from the components of amalgam restorations during its placement and chronic use.

Systemic genotoxicity in subjects exposed to amalgam during its placement (Group II; n=5) and subjects with chronic exposure to amalgam (Group III; n=5) were compared with controls (Group I; n=5) by SCE assay in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Subjects exposed to amalgam during its placement and subjects having chronic exposure to amalgam showed an increase in the frequency of SCE, but the change was not statistically significant (P=0.84, P=0.123 respectively).

Systemic genotoxicity was not observed due to the components of amalgam restorations released during its placement and chronic use. The findings of this study can be considered as preliminary information on the systemic toxicity due to the components of amalgam restorations.