Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, especially exposure to alkylating agents, can affect tooth development.[3,5,6]

Chemotherapy for the treatment of leukemia or neuroblastoma is associated with shortening and thinning of the premolar roots and enamel abnormalities.[8,16,17]

Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) investigators identified age younger than 5 years and increased exposure to cyclophosphamide as significant risk factors for developmental dental abnormalities in long-term survivors of childhood cancer.[3]

In the SJLIFE study, survivors who received classic alkylating agents (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.36–1.88) or anthracycline antibiotics (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04–1.42) 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.[12]