Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer leads to gingival recession associated with dental caries.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2022;
133:539-546. [PMID:
35304084 PMCID:
PMC9018549 DOI:
10.1016/j.oooo.2022.01.016]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine effects of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) on periodontal disease and relationships to caries.
STUDY DESIGN
A multicenter prospective observational cohort study (OraRad) was conducted in patients undergoing RT for HNC. Assessments were conducted by calibrated examiners at the pre-RT (baseline) visit (n = 533), the 12-month visit (n = 414), and the 24-month visit (n = 365).
RESULTS
The average whole mouth mean (standard error (SE)) distance from the cementoenamel junction to the gingival margin (CEJ-GM) decreased significantly from 0.43 (0.04) mm at baseline to 0.24 (0.04) mm at 12 months and 0.11 (0.04) mm at 24 months (P ≤ .001). Whole mouth mean (SE) percentage of sites with CEJ-GM distance of <0 mm increased significantly from 23.3% (1.0%) at baseline to 28.5% (1.0%) at 12 months and 30.5% (1.1%) at 24 months (P ≤ .02). Higher mean radiation dose to the mandible was associated with a greater increase in the percentage of mandibular sites with CEJ-GM distance of <0 mm (P = .003). Both mean CEJ-GM distance and the percentage of sites with a CEJ-GM distance <0 mm were strongly associated with whole mouth mean proportion of decayed, missing, and filled surfaces, as well as proportion of decayed or filled facial/buccal surfaces specifically, (P < .001), with greater gingival recession associated with increased caries.
CONCLUSIONS
RT for HNC leads to mandibular gingival recession in a dose-dependent manner. This gingival recession may contribute to increased risk for cervical caries seen in these patients.
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