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. 2023 Feb 4;23(1):73.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-02762-0.

Factors for poor oral health in long-term childhood cancer survivors

Tushar Patni  1 , Chun-Teh Lee  2 , Yimei Li  1 , Sue Kaste  3 , Liang Zhu  4 , Ryan Sun  5 , Melissa M Hudson  6 , Kirsten K Ness  7 , Ana Neumann  8 , Leslie L Robison  7
Affiliations

Factors for poor oral health in long-term childhood cancer survivors

Tushar Patni et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for therapy-related dental diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate the associations between clinical, socioeconomic, and demographic factors and oral diseases in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort (SJLIFE) participants.

Methods: We performed a retrospective medical chart review and evaluated longitudinal self-reported dental outcomes in 4856 childhood cancer survivors and 591 community controls participating in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort (SJLIFE) study. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of socioeconomic factors, treatment exposures and patient demographics on dental outcomes.

Results: Cancer survivors were more likely to report microdontia (odds ratio (OR) = 7.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) [4.64, 14.90]), abnormal root development (OR = 6.19, CI [3.38, 13.00]), hypodontia (OR = 2.75, CI [1.83, 4.33]), enamel hypoplasia (OR = 4.24, CI [2.9, 6.49]), xerostomia (OR = 7.72, CI [3.27, 25.10]), severe gingivitis (OR = 2.04, CI [1.43, 3.03]), and ≥ 6 missing teeth (OR = 3.73, CI [2.46, 6.00]) compared to controls without cancer history. Survivors who received classic alkylating agents (OR = 1.6, CI [1.36, 1.88]), anthracycline antibiotics (OR = 1.22, CI [1.04, 1.42] or radiation therapy potentially exposing the oral cavity (OR = 1.48, CI [1.26, 1.72]) were more likely to report at least one dental health problem after controlling for socioeconomic factors, age at last follow-up and diagnosis, other treatment exposures, and access to dental services. Survivors who had radiation therapy potentially exposing the oral cavity (OR = 1.52, CI [1.25, 1.84]) were also more likely to report at least one soft tissue abnormality after controlling for socioeconomic factors, age at last follow-up and diagnosis, other treatment exposures, and access and utilization of dental services.

Conclusions: Childhood cancer survivors have a higher prevalence of oral-dental abnormalities than the controls without a cancer history. Cancer treatment, socioeconomic factors, and access to oral health care contribute to the prevalence of dental abnormalities.

Keywords: Cohort studies; Dental care; Dental caries; Mouth diseases; Periodontal diseases; Radiation effects.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the number of survivors consented for the study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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