ABSTRACT
AIM: The potential effects on human health of extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) are of considerable concern. In the present study, it was investigated the effect of long term ELF-MF exposure on microhardness of rat teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The first and second experimental groups (n=10) were exposed to 100 µT and 500 µT ELF-MF during 10 months, 2 hours a day respectively. For the control group, nothing was applied to the rats and they completed their life cycle in the cage during the study period. After ELF-MF exposure, microhardness of enamel surface was determined for each group. RESULTS: The decrease in microhardness in the second experimental group was found to be statistically significant compared to the control group (P <0.05). However, no statistical difference was found between the first and second experimental groups (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: From the results it can be concluded that 500 µT level of magnetic field strengths may have a certain negative effect on enamel mineralisation. Further investigations are necessary to analyse the effect of ELF-MF on teeth.
