Synergistic Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields of Dental Light Cure Devices and Mobile Phones Accelerates the Microleakage of Amalgam Restorations: An in vitro Study

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that exposure to electromagnetic fields produced by magnetic resonance imaging or mobile phones can lead to increased microleakage of dental amalgam. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of electromagnetic field of a commercial dental light cure device and a common GSM mobile phone on microleakage of amalgam restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Identical class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of 60 non-carious extracted human teeth. The samples were randomly divided into 4 groups of 20 samples each. The samples in the first group were not exposed to electromagnetic fields, while the second and the third groups were exposed to electromagnetic fields produced by a commercial light cure device, or mobile phone radiation (60 min), respectively. The fourth group was exposed to electromagnetic radiations emitted by both mobile phone for 60 min and light cure device. Then, teeth samples were scored for microleakage according to a standard dye penetration protocol by examination under a stereomicroscope. RESULTS: The mean score of microleakage in the fourth group (light cure + mobile phone) was significantly higher than that of the control group (P =0.030). Moreover, the scores of microleakage in this group were significantly higher than that of the second group (light cure only) (P= 0.043). CONCLUSION: Exposure of amalgam restorations to electromagnetic fields produced by both light cure devices and mobile phones can synergistically increase the microleakage of amalgam restorations.