Is there a connection between synthetic bone grafts and sisters chromatide exchange?

Background: In oral and maxillofacial surgery, synthetic bone grafts are most widely used as bone substitutes, due to the limited sources of autologous bone. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of three different synthetic bone grafts (Cerasorb, Fortoss and Perioglass) on sisters chromatide exchanges (SCEs) in peripheral lymphocytes. Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples taken from 68 patients (45 females and 23 males), who underwent oral surgery procedures, such as apical resection, cyst enucleation or periodontal curretage, were obtained for SCE a day before and two months after the surgeries. A control group included 30 patients, while the study group was made of the patients who underwent bone grafting with Cerasorb (11 patients), Fortoss VITAL (10 patients) or Perioglass (17 patients). Results: Comparing with the results of the study group before and after the treatment, it was concluded that the results were statistically significant (p = 0.001). In the Perioglass subgroup, a greater statistical significance (p = 0.003) was noted, than that in either the Cerasorb (p = 0.620) or Fortoss (p = 0.210) subgroups, in which there was no statistical significance. Conclusions: Although further investigations may be necessary, our results suggest that the synthetic bone grafts might have an influence on SCE in peripheral lymphocytes.