Effects of Ionizing Radiation of Oral Structures

Abstract

Caries-susceptible rats of the Naval Medical Research Inst. strain, kept on a cariogenic and Purina Laboratory Chow dietary regimen, were exposed at the age of 3 weeks to 200 r of X-ray (HVL = 0.75 mm. Cu) given as total body radiation in a single exposure. In the group of irradiated animals kept on the cariogenic dietary regimen, a statistically significant increase of dental caries incidence was found, as compared to the unirradiated controls. In the group of irradiated animals kept on Purina Laboratory Chow, no such results were obtained. Weight curves indicate a lesser gain in the irradiated animals irrespective of the dietary regimen.