Long-term effects of chemotherapy on orodental structures in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The aim of this study was to investigate the late effects of treatment for childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) on oral health and dental development. Thirty-six long-term survivors that had been treated with chemotherapy of childhood NHL were included in this study and 36 volunteers with similar age and sex distribution served as controls. Both groups underwent a complete orodental examination for decayed, missing and filled teeth and surfaces, gingival and periodontal health according to the Loe-Silness Gingival Index and Sillnes-Loe Plaque Index, enamel defects and discolorations, root malformations, eruption status, agenesis, premature apexifications and microdontia. The severity of these disturbances related to age at the time of NHL diagnosis were also evaluated by creating two groups as < 5 yr and > 5 yr. Although none of the parameters altered with age, patients had significantly higher plaque index, more enamel discolorations and root malformations than did the controls. The results show that long-term survivors of NHL patients exhibit some orodental disturbances that may be attributed to the chemotherapy regimens.