Altered dental growth and development is a frequent complication for long-term cancer survivors who received high-dose chemotherapy and/or head/neck radiation for childhood malignancies.[1-8] Developmental disturbances in children treated at younger than 12 years generally affect size, shape, and eruption of teeth as well as craniofacial development. Abnormal tooth formation manifests as decreased crown size, shortened and conical shaped roots, and microdontia; on occasion, complete agenesis may occur. Eruption of teeth can be delayed, including increased frequency of impacted maxillary canines. Shortened root length is associated with diminished alveolar processes which in turn leads to decreased occlusal vertical dimension. Additionally, conditioning-induced injury to maxillary and mandibular growth centers can compromise full maturation of the craniofacial complex. Because the changes tend to be symmetric, the effect is not always clinically evident; cephalometric analysis is typically necessary to delineate the scope of the condition.

The role and timing of orthodontic treatment for patients who have had transplant-related malocclusions or other alterations of dental growth and development is not fully established. The number of successfully managed orthodontic interventions appears to be increasing; however, specific guidelines for management, including optimal force and pace with which teeth should be moved, remains undefined. Influence of growth hormone relative to improved development of maxillary and mandibular structures is yet to be comprehensively studied. Such studies may well influence recommendations for orthodontic treatment. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer ¹ for further information.)

References

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2. Dahllöf G, Barr M, Bolme P, et al.: Disturbances in dental development after total body irradiation in bone marrow transplant recipients. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 65 (1): 41-4, 1988.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. Dahllöf G: Craniofacial growth in children treated for malignant diseases. Acta Odontol Scand 56 (6): 378-82, 1998.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
4. Dahllöf G, Forsberg CM, Ringdén O, et al.: Facial growth and morphology in long-term survivors after bone marrow transplantation. Eur J Orthod 11 (4): 332-40, 1989.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
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7. Dahllöf G, Heimdahl A, Bolme P, et al.: Oral condition in children treated with bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 3 (1): 43-51, 1988.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
8. Rosenberg SW, Kolodney H, Wong GY, et al.: Altered dental root development in long-term survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A review of 17 cases. Cancer 59 (9): 1640-8, 1987.  [PUBMED Abstract]