This study shows that irradiation affects microhardness and micro-morphology of enamel and dentin of permanent teeth. The effects of gamma irradiation on dental substrate might contribute to increased risk of radiation tooth decay associated with salivary changes, microbiota shift and high soft and carbohydrate-rich food intake.

PurposeTo evaluate the effects of radiation therapy on deciduous teeth.Materials and methodsThe enamel and dentin microhardness (n = 12) was evaluated at 3 depths, both before (control) and after each 10 Gy of irradiation and up to a dose of 60 Gy. The morphology was evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (n = 8). The data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test (α = 5%).ResultsThe enamel microhardness, as a whole, increased (p < 0.05) after a dose of 60 Gy (211.4 KH), mostly in the superficial enamel. There was a significant difference between the values of nonirradiated dentin microhardness (28.9 KH) compared with dentin that was irradiated with doses of 10 Gy (23.8 KH), 20 Gy (25.6 KH), 30 Gy (24.8 KH), and 40 Gy (25.7 KH) (p < 0.05). There was no difference between nonirradiated dentin and dentin irradiated with 60 Gy (p > 0.05). The highest mean value of microhardness (29.9 KH) (p < 0.05) was found in the middle dentin. The groups that were irradiated with doses of 30 and 60 Gy exhibited greater surface changes in their enamel and dentin compared with the nonirradiated groups for all regions, exhibiting an amorphous surface upon increase of the irradiation doses.ConclusionsThe enamel microhardness increased at a dose of 60 Gy, whereas the value of the dentin microhardness did not change. A progressive disruption of enamel and dentin morphology was found with the increased radiation dose.

Radiation was associated with a decrease in the push-out bond strength of sealers to intraradicular dentine and formation of more gaps and fewer tags at the sealer/dentine interface regardless of the sealer.

Radiation was associated with a decrease in the push-out bond strength and with lower resin cement/root dentine interface adaptation. Self-adhesive resin cement was a better alternative for fibre post cementation in teeth subjected to radiation therapy. The bond strength decreased after 6 months.

Aim To evaluate the effect of carbodiimide (EDC) and chlorhexidine (CHX) on the bond strength (BS) of resin cement to root dentine of teeth submitted to radiotherapy. Methodology One hundred and twenty extracted maxillary canines were selected and assigned to 2 groups (n = 60): nonirradiated and irradiated (30 cycles of 2 Gy, total 60 Gy). Roots lengths were standardized, and canals were prepared and filled. Post spaces were then prepared, and the samples were redistributed according to dentine treatment (n = 20): saline solution (SF); CHX 2%; or EDC 0.5M. After drying the post space, fibreglass posts were cemented. Cross‐sectioned slices were obtained, and in half of the specimens of each subgroup (n = 10), the analysis was performed immediately; the others (n = 10) were stored for 10 months before analyses. The most cervical slice of each third was subjected to a push‐out test and failure pattern analysis (n = 10), and the most apical slice submitted to the analysis of the adhesive interface by SEM (n = 5). The bond strength data were submitted to anova and Tukey tests, the adhesive interface adaptation was submitted to Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn's tests, and the Chi‐square test was used to evaluate the type of failure. Results The irradiated specimens had significantly lower bond strength (13.8 ± 4.3) than the nonirradiated (18.1 ± 3.1; P < 0.001). For the irradiated teeth, the bond strengths were significantly lower in the SF and CHX groups (P < 0.001). Also, the bond strengths reduced significantly after 10 months in the SF and CHX groups (P < 0.001). Cohesive failures occurred in dentine for irradiated specimens. Poorer interface adaptation, dentine fractures and microfractures were observed in irradiated specimens, and better adaptation was observed for specimens after EDC treatment. Conclusions Radiotherapy was associated with lower bond strength and worse interface adaptation. Dentine treatment with EDC contributed to adhesive interface longevity during the cementation of glass fibre posts in nonirradiated and irradiated teeth.