TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Radiation to the head and neck and certain types of chemotherapy increase the risk of late effects to the teeth and jaws.
Source: Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
The risk of health problems that affect the teeth and jaws increases after treatment with:
radiation therapy to the head and neck
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TBI as part of a stem cell transplant
chemotherapy, especially with higher doses of alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide
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surgery in the head and neck area
Risk is also increased in survivors who were younger than 5 years at the time of treatment because their permanent teeth had not fully formed.
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice