ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test the corrosion behavior of three kinds of dental casting alloys and to investigate the effect of the released metal ions on the DNA damage of dog buccal mucosal cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three kinds of frequently used dental casting alloys were used to make full crowns for dogs. The concentration of the released metal ions was measured after the restoration of 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months. The DNA damage of buccal mucosal cells was studied by the method of SCGE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The metal ions released from NiCr and NiCrBe were detected in buccal mucosal cells while the amount of the ions released from noble alloy (gold 58%) was too small to be detected. The DNA damage of mucosal cells increased after restoration of NiCr and NiCrBe crowns.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The noble alloy (gold 58%) is most corrosion resistant of the three alloys and has good biocompatibility. The NiCr and NiCrBe are prone to corrode and have cytotoxicity to cells.</p>