The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on Microleakage of Amalgam Restorations: An in Vitro Study

Previous studies have reported an increase in the mercury release from dental amalgam restorations, following exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by sources such as mobile phones and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It has also been shown that MRI increases microleakage of amalgam restorations. In this study, Helmholtz coils are used for generating pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF)..
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PEMFs on microleakage of amalgam restorations, using a pair of Helmholtz coils..
Patients and Standardized class V cavities were prepared on the facial surfaces of 46 non-carious extracted human premolars. Then, the samples were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, each containing 23 teeth. The experimental group was exposed to the uniform magnetic fields generated by a pair helmholtz coils. The magnetic field strength at the central point of the two coils was 0.1 mT. All specimens were placed in 2% basic fuchsin solution. Then the teeth were sectioned, examined under a stereomicroscope, and scored for microleakage according to the degree of dye penetration..
There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the microleakage score..
The results of the present study suggest that PEMF exposure does not have adverse effects on microleakage of amalgam restorations..