Hamed Mortazavi1, Maryam Tashvighi2, Morteza Azizian3, Hamid Reza Khalighi4, Siamak Sabour5, Amir Movahhedian6, Maryam Baharvand7. 1. Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran . 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical School. Azad University , Qom, Iran . 3. General Dental Practitioner, Tehran , Iran . 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran . 5. Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran . 6. Dental Student, Department of Oral Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran . 7. Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran .
Abstract
CONTEXT: Cancer is a major cause of death in children under 15 years of age. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate relationship between demographics and dental status in a defined group of Iranian paediatric patients undergoing cancer therapy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was accomplished on 161 subjects age ranging 8-12 years. There were 76 cancerous patients hospitalized at Mahak Hospital (one of the major children's cancer centers in Tehran) as the study group and 85 healthy children attending at Dental School, International Branch of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran from 2012 to 2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographics were gathered by using data-form. Oral examination and DMFT Index were used to describe teeth status in all teeth and in the first permanent molars. According to Becker's definition, "D" stands for untreated decayed teeth, "M" indicates missing teeth, and "F" shows Filled teeth. It is noteworthy that full coverage crowns are considered as "F" in this Index. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Student's t-tests and Logistic Regression were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The most frequent type of cancer was acute lymphoblastic/lymphocytic leukemia (33.3%). Patients were significantly shorter than controls (p=0.03), and their fathers and mothers were of lower educational achievement (p=0.01, p= 0.001). Although DMFT of all dentition showed significantly higher score in cancerous children (p=0.001), DMFT of four first permanent molars (left, right, upper, and lower) was borderline significantly higher in patients (p= 0.06). Moreover, frequency of cancer was borderline significantly higher in children with lower birth order (p= 0.05). According to Logistic Regression, in as much as patients grew elder 1 year, DMFT index increased 1.5 units. CONCLUSION: Patients under cancer therapy were shorter than healthy ones, and their parents were of lower educational levels. In addition, their teeth status was poorer than controls.
CONTEXT: Cancer is a major cause of death in children under 15 years of age. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate relationship between demographics and dental status in a defined group of Iranian paediatric patients undergoing cancer therapy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was accomplished on 161 subjects age ranging 8-12 years. There were 76 cancerouspatients hospitalized at Mahak Hospital (one of the major children's cancer centers in Tehran) as the study group and 85 healthy children attending at Dental School, International Branch of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran from 2012 to 2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographics were gathered by using data-form. Oral examination and DMFT Index were used to describe teeth status in all teeth and in the first permanent molars. According to Becker's definition, "D" stands for untreated decayed teeth, "M" indicates missing teeth, and "F" shows Filled teeth. It is noteworthy that full coverage crowns are considered as "F" in this Index. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Student's t-tests and Logistic Regression were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The most frequent type of cancer was acute lymphoblastic/lymphocytic leukemia (33.3%). Patients were significantly shorter than controls (p=0.03), and their fathers and mothers were of lower educational achievement (p=0.01, p= 0.001). Although DMFT of all dentition showed significantly higher score in cancerouschildren (p=0.001), DMFT of four first permanent molars (left, right, upper, and lower) was borderline significantly higher in patients (p= 0.06). Moreover, frequency of cancer was borderline significantly higher in children with lower birth order (p= 0.05). According to Logistic Regression, in as much as patients grew elder 1 year, DMFT index increased 1.5 units. CONCLUSION:Patients under cancer therapy were shorter than healthy ones, and their parents were of lower educational levels. In addition, their teeth status was poorer than controls.