Long-term effects of chemotherapy on dental status in children treated for nephroblastoma

Dental abnormalities among children treated at a young age for Wilms tumor are reported. The authors retrospectively reviewed the dental records and panoramic radiographs of 27 children treated for nephroblastoma between 1994 and 1998. They evaluated the frequency of apparent microdontia, excessive caries, root stunting, hypodontia, and enamel hypoplasia and compared this group to a control group of 78 children. Seventy percent of the children developed dental abnormalities, comprising root stunting (44%), enamel hypoplasia (22%), microdontia (18%), and hypodontia (7%). Results of control subjects were significantly different regarding dental abnormalities, especially microdontia and taurodontia. These results indicate that chemotherapy in children may lead to troubles affecting teeth growing at the time of treatment. Information and prospective dental care are needed, and further investigations are required.