The study is associated with the effect of aspirin (Acetyl Salicylic Acid) on the microhardness of mineralized tissues of the offspring’s teeth, in response to the ingestion of the drug during pregnancy. Aspirin is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic medicine, for symptomatic treatment. Misuse of this drug during pregnancy may instigate developmental defects in offspring. An experimental control study was designed, in which female rabbits were taken as representative mammalian models and treated with aspirin during pregnancy. Their offspring’s teeth were used to assess the microhardness of dental tissues. The rabbits were alienated into two groups, treated and control, consisting of seven rabbits in each set (n= 7). Microhardness was evaluated in three types of the sample teeth. The total number of teeth examined were, 2x7x12= 168 samples. Vicker’s Hardness degree values were measured and recorded vis-à-vis (50 g for 15 s with 3 indentations per specimen on enamel and dentine separately). The range of hardness obtained was statistically analyzed and the Student’s t-tests was applied, with the aid of SPSS version 20. The P-values for both enamel and dentine from maxillary incisors and molars were less than 0.05. The same trend was observed in the mandibular teeth. However, a teratogenicity of Acetyl Salicylic Acid was pragmatic in the recent in vivo studies. Based on the analysis, it was evident that the aspirin administration could produce negative effects leading to reduction in the microhardness of dental tissues of the offsprings.

KEY WORDS: Dentition; Aspirin; Female rabbits; Teratogenic effect; Microhardness.