A case-control study of dental abnormalities and dental maturity in childhood cancer survivors

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate dental abnormalities and dental maturity (DM) in the permanent dentition of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) in comparison with that of healthy individuals.

Study design: A retrospective, case-control study, with convenience sampling, evaluated 111 panoramic radiographs (PRs) of CCSs compared with 111 PRs of healthy individuals matched for age and gender. Dental anomalies (DAs) were associated with age of cancer diagnosis and type of antineoplastic treatment. DM was assessed by using the Demirjian method.

Results: A higher prevalence of microdontia, hypodontia, and dental root anomalies were present in CCSs compared with healthy individuals (P < .05). CCSs were the only individuals with 10 or greater DAs compared with healthy individuals. Microdontia was the only DA associated with age of cancer diagnosis less than 71 months (P < .05). Impacted teeth were associated with multimodal cancer treatment (P < .001). DM did not present a significant statistical difference between CCSs and healthy individuals (P > .05).

Conclusions: CCSs had a higher prevalence of DAs without DM alteration compared with healthy individuals. Age of cancer diagnosis and type of treatment can influence the prevalence of some dental abnormalities.