Simony Hidee Hamoy Kataoka1, Frank C Setzer2, Eudes Gondim-Junior2, Eduardo Rodrigues Fregnani3, Claudia Joffily P Moraes3, Oscar Faciola Pessoa4, Giulio Gavini5, Celso Luiz Caldeira5. 1. Discipline of Endodontics, Department of Esthetic Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: simonykataoka@usp.br. 2. Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 3. Department of Oral Medicine, Sirio-Libanês Hospital, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 4. Discipline of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Centro Universitário do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil. 5. Discipline of Endodontics, Department of Esthetic Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Radiation therapy (RT) of malignant tumors in the head and neck area may have damaging effects on surrounding tissues. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on pulp vitality by measuring pulp oxygenation levels (%SpO2) in patients with history of RT of intraoral and oropharyngeal tumors 4-6 years after treatment. METHODS: In an experimental group RT (n = 90, history of RT) and a control group CON (n = 90, no history of RT), pulp vitality was assessed by measuring %SpO2 by using pulse oximetry and pulp sensitivity by cold thermal testing. All anterior teeth without history of endodontic therapy of the participants in group RT were measured (n = 693), regardless of the quadrant and the irradiated area. An equal number of anterior teeth were tested in group CON. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the %SpO2 levels in group RT (92.7%; standard deviation, ± 1.83) and group CON (92.6%; standard deviation, ± 1.80). All teeth in RT and CON groups showed a positive response to the thermal test. All tested teeth were considered vital. CONCLUSIONS: Pulp %SpO2 was found to be within normal limits 4-6 years after RT. This suggests that RT may not have a long-term influence on pulp vitality, and reported short-term changes in pulpal microcirculation because of RT may be temporary.
INTRODUCTION: Radiation therapy (RT) of malignant tumors in the head and neck area may have damaging effects on surrounding tissues. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on pulp vitality by measuring pulp oxygenation levels (%SpO2) in patients with history of RT of intraoral and oropharyngeal tumors 4-6 years after treatment. METHODS: In an experimental group RT (n = 90, history of RT) and a control group CON (n = 90, no history of RT), pulp vitality was assessed by measuring %SpO2 by using pulse oximetry and pulp sensitivity by cold thermal testing. All anterior teeth without history of endodontic therapy of the participants in group RT were measured (n = 693), regardless of the quadrant and the irradiated area. An equal number of anterior teeth were tested in group CON. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the %SpO2 levels in group RT (92.7%; standard deviation, ± 1.83) and group CON (92.6%; standard deviation, ± 1.80). All teeth in RT and CON groups showed a positive response to the thermal test. All tested teeth were considered vital. CONCLUSIONS: Pulp %SpO2 was found to be within normal limits 4-6 years after RT. This suggests that RT may not have a long-term influence on pulp vitality, and reported short-term changes in pulpal microcirculation because of RT may be temporary.
Authors: Caique Mariano Pedroso; Cesar Augusto Migliorati; Joel B Epstein; Ana Carolina Prado Ribeiro; Thaís Bianca Brandão; Márcio Ajudarte Lopes; Mário Fernando de Goes; Alan Roger Santos-Silva Journal: Front Oral Health Date: 2022-07-14