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Effects of X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging on mercury release from dental amalgam into artificial saliva

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Abstract

Objectives

We have investigated the effects of X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the release of mercury from dental amalgam into artificial saliva.

Methods

A commercial brand of amalgam capsules was used, and the capsules were molded into discs (diameter 3 mm, thickness 1 mm) in plexiglas molds before treatment. The samples were divided into three groups. The first group was exposed to X-rays, the second group was exposed to MRI in a soft tissue-equivalent material, and the third group contained an equal number of samples as a control group. All samples were stored in artificial saliva for 1, 2, or 24 h. Mercury analyses were performed with a cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer. The results were analyzed by two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance with the Bonferroni correction as a post hoc test at the 95 % confidence level.

Results

A significant increase in mercury was detected in the X-ray-exposed group versus the control group (mean values 5.79 vs. 3.84 ppb, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). However, no significant difference in mercury dissolution was found between the MRI-exposed group and the control group (mean values: 4.51 vs. 4.30 ppb).

Conclusions

Mercury release increased after exposure to X-rays, but no change was detected after exposure to MRI.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported financially by the Scientific Research Unit (BAP No. 09B4240011) of Ankara University. The authors are grateful to the SDI Company for the amalgam capsules used in the study.

Conflict of interest

Mustafa Taştekin received financial support from the Scientific Research Unit (BAP No. 09B4240011) of Ankara University to buy the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Sebnem Kursun, Bengi Öztas, and Havva Atas declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Ankara, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey

    Sebnem Kursun & Bengi Öztas

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ankara, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey

    Havva Atas & Mustafa Tastekin

Authors
  1. Sebnem Kursun
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  2. Bengi Öztas
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  3. Havva Atas
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  4. Mustafa Tastekin
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Correspondence to Sebnem Kursun.

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Kursun, S., Öztas, B., Atas, H. et al. Effects of X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging on mercury release from dental amalgam into artificial saliva. Oral Radiol 30, 142–146 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-013-0154-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-013-0154-0

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