In vitro dentine hardness following gamma-irradiation and freezing.

Objectives: To investigate the short term effects of gamma-irradiation and conventional freezing on the hardness of human dentine.

Methods: Twenty-one dentine disks were produced by transverse sectioning 21 sound extracted human permanent molar teeth. The 2.1 mm thick disks were wet polished using 4000 grit polishing paper. Three lines were drawn dividing each disk into six symmetrical areas. Seven disks were randomly assigned for freezing in water at -18 degrees C for 12 days; seven were exposed to a single dose of 25.2 kGy gamma radiation in water; seven were kept in water at 20 degrees C for 12 days (control). Before treatment, three Vicker's indentations at a load of 30 kg and a dwelling time of 20 s were made in one half of each disk, at equal distances from its edge and centre. Using light microscopy and image analysis software, the indentation diagonals were measured 4 h after preparation. Vicker's hardness values (VHN = kg/mm2) were calculated for each indentation. Following the treatment, VHNs were calculated again, for three symmetrical indentations in the second half of each disk. A statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Results: The frozen group showed no changes following the treatment (VHN = 58 +/- 6 before vs. 57 +/- 6 after). The irradiation and control groups showed some hardening (VHN = 53 +/- 7 vs. 59 +/- 8; 57 +/- 3 vs. 63 +/- 6, respectively), however all values were within the normal variation.

Conclusion: Both conventional freezing at -18 degrees C for 12 days in water, and a single gamma-irradiation dose of 25.2 kGy in water, appeared to have no short term effects on the hardness of human coronal dentine.