Prevalence of Dental Anomalies in Children With Cancer Differs Based on Treatment Received

A new study in Nature demonstrates that the prevalence of dental anomalies among children who undergo cancer treatment differs based on the type of therapy received. Conducted at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, authors looked at the impact of chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery in addition to disease type and patient age on the prevalence of dental anomalies. The data show that the combination of chemotherapy and radiation—especially in the head and neck region—led to the highest prevalence of dental anomalies in children treated for cancer. The dental anomalies appeared 1 year to 2 years after the conclusion of cancer treatment. Dental anomalies ranged from missing teeth to small teeth to inability to open the mouth to facial abnormalities. Click here to read more.