A critical look at prevalence assessment of dental abnormalities after chemotherapy. Clinical research

Abstract

Introduction: Dental abnormalities are relatively frequent among late complications of anticancer treatment received by patients at a young age. Available statistical reports are based on different research methods providing various results. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of agenesis and reduction in crown size in cancer survivors and healthy subjects with special attention to the age at which treatment was begun and therapy duration related to the developmental stage of the affected teeth.Material and methods: Cancer survivors and their healthy peers were examined clinically and radiographically towards an existence of hypodontia and changes in the dental crown size.Results: Cancer survivors had abnormalities examined in the prevalence of 62.16% and total number of 100 teeth disturbed. Significantly lower prevalence (13.51%) and smaller number of teeth affected (10) were disclosed in the control group. After the affected teeth were divided into developmental groups, the mean age at the time of anticancer therapy varied noticeably and corresponded with expected time of early tooth development. Analysis revealed that 80% of survivors with hypodontia, 91.67% with microdontia, and 100% with teeth reduced in size received the therapy at the expected early development. Conclusions: The findings of the study showed a strong correlation between the age at the therapy and the expected time of odontogenesis of teeth affected in almost 98% of cases.