GENOTOXICITY AND CYTOTOXICITY CAUSED BY CLEAR ALIGNERS-AN INVIVO STUDY

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the possible cytotoxic damage to the oral mucosal cells in healthy patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with clear aligners. Materials & Methods: 20 patients who required orthodontic treatment were chosen. The rst set of aligners were fabricated for each patient using a PETG material. Patients were instructed to wear the aligners for 22 hours a day for 15 days. Buccal mucosal cells were sampled at two time intervals T0- pre treatment and T1- after 15 days and were immediately smeared onto a clean glass slide. The smears were immediately xed in isopropyl alcohol, following which the slides were hydrated with distilled water, stained with the Papanicolaou method and subjected to cytomorphometric analysis. The two samples obtained at T0 and T1 for each patient were compared to check for an increase in number of micronucleated cells. Student Paired t Test was used to compare the mean micronuclei count between pre and post treatment. Results: The mean Micro Nuclei count in the post treatment period was signicantly higher (4.50 ± 1.96) as compared to pretreatment period (3.10 ± 1.73) with a mean difference of -1.40 at P=0.007. Conclusion: Within the experimental limits of this study the PETG material used for fabrication of aligners resulted in a change in the nature of buccal mucosal cells with an increase in the number of micronuclei which is an indicator for cytotoxicity. The PETG material may have a cytotoxic effect on the cells of the oral mucosa.