Oral health status in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

Leukemia is a malignancy of the bone marrow. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric malignancy and accounts for nearly 75% of all newly diagnosed leukemias and 25% of all malignancies in childhood. The aim of the present study was to review the oral health status in children with ALL. Databases were explored using various combinations of the following keywords: "acute lymphoblastic leukemia", "children", "inflammation", "pediatric", "periodontal disease" and "periodontitis". Oral inflammatory conditions including chelitis, gingivitis, herpetic gingivostomatitis, mucositis, oral candidiasis, periodontitis and ulcerations are common manifestations in children with ALL.

Results: Periodontal inflammatory conditions and oral mucositis were reported to be significantly higher in children with ALL as compared to healthy controls. Tooth morphological disorders including agenesis, microdontia, short roots and developmental defects in the enamel and dentin were more often observed in children with ALL as compared to healthy controls. Children with ALL have a reduced salivary flow rate, which makes them more susceptible to dental caries as compared to healthy children. Malocclusion due to microdontia may also trigger temporomandibular joint disorders in children with ALL; however, this relationship needs further investigations.

Conclusion: Oral inflammatory conditions including mucositis and gingivitis are common in children with ALL as compared to healthy children. Tooth morphological disorders including microdontia and enamel and dentin are common manifestations in children with ALL.