Effects of different radiation doses on the microhardness, superficial morphology, and mineral components of human enamel

•After radiation, decrease in microhardness values was found in cervical enamel only.•Radiation caused no change in the Ca/P ratio of enamel.•Morphological changes were only found in cervical enamels irradiated with 70 Gy.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of three different radiotherapy doses (20, 40, and 70 Gy) on the microhardness, superficial morphology, and mineral content (based on Ca and P values) of three different depths of human enamel (cervical, middle, and occlusal).DesignThirty-four third molars were cut, separated, and prepared. Microhardness samples (n = 30) were embedded in acrylic resin and then polished, and depths were delimited. Microhardness tests were performed on cervical, middle, and occlusal enamel pre- and post-radiotherapy with a load of 50 g for 30 s. For the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis (n = 4) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) (n = 12), samples were fixed in a 3% glutaraldehyde solution, washed in 0.1 M cacodylate solution, and dehydrated in crescent concentrations of ethanol. Microhardness data were tested for significant differences using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test (p < 0.05), while SEM and EDS were evaluated qualitatively.ResultsThe results showed a decrease in microhardness values only in the cervical enamel, regardless of the radiation dose used; no morphological or mineral change was observed.ConclusionRadiotherapy can affect the microhardness values of only cervical enamel without compromising the morphological or mineral (Ca and P) content at any depth.