Dental Pulp Calcification Among Young Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study

Purpose: Several studies have evaluated the effects of cancer-related chemo-radiation on developing teeth, leading to disturbances in the formation of enamel and dentin, affecting the crown and root. However, their impact on dental pulp has not been well explored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental pulp calcification among young cancer survivors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study consisting of 240 participants, each among cases and controls. It comprised an evaluation of orthopantomograms of cancer survivors prescribed as part of the follow-up evaluation under the cancer survivorship program. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of malignancy (with a baseline diagnosis at 21 years of age or younger) who completed cancer treatment, as well as a long-term survivor (i.e., they remained cancer-free for two years), were included. Similarly, controls included were free from dental caries or any other systemic condition that could affect the dental pulp calcification. Results: The prevalence of dental pulp calcification was 24.1 percent (95 percent confidence interval [95% CI=19.15 to 30) among young cancer survivors, whereas among controls it was 8.3 percent (95% CI=5.43 to 12.57), which was statistically significant (P< 0.01). The multivariate regression analysis revealed 2.54 odds of having dental pulp calcification among survivors with initiation of anticancer therapy at the age of five years or younger, and 2.08 odds among those who received chemotherapy and radiation compared to chemotherapy alone. Conclusion: There was an increased likelihood of dental pulp calcification among young cancer survivors, especially when radiation was combined with chemotherapy and initiated at a young age.