Adherence to dental treatment reduces oral complications related to cancer treatment in pediatric and adolescent patients.

Abstract

To analyze the association between adherence to dental treatment and (1) oral complications and (2) clinical and sociodemographic aspects of pediatric and adolescent patients with cancer. A retrospective cohort study with a sample of 147 children and adolescents who underwent cancer treatment of solid tumors or lymphomas was carried out. The patients were divided into three groups according to previously established criteria. Sociodemographic aspects and oncological, dental, and oral complications were analyzed. The mean age of patients was 6.7 ± 6.09years; 57.1% were males and 42.9% were females. Of the 147 patients, 37.41% had full adherence, 33.3% had partial adherence, and 29.3% had non-adherence to the proposed dental treatment. A statistically significant association between oral complications and adherence to dental treatment (p= 0.006) could be observed. The presence of caries lesions at the initial oral examination presented a statistically significant association with adherence to dental treatment (p = 0.004). Children with caries lesions at the initial dental examination had an 88% higher risk of developing oral complications compared with those without caries (RR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.01-3.49). After adjustments for age and the presence of caries lesions at the initial examination, adherence to dental treatment remained the only independent risk factor for oral complications (adjusted RR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.17-5.57). This study has demonstrated that non-adherence to dental treatment was associated with higher incidence of oral complications and it is a risk factor for these complications. The presence of caries lesions at the initial oral examination was associated with non-adherence to dental treatment.