title: Clinical evaluation of dental and periodontal status in a group of oncological patients before chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the dental status of 88 cancer patients before chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight patients with cancer in different body locations were studied and compared with a control group. Dental plaque was assessed by means of the Silness and Löe index, dental status with the DMFT index, and periodontal status with the modified CPI index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the oncological patients the mean Silness and Löe index was 1.28-/+0.11. Patients showed multiple missing teeth (mean number 7.55-/+0.80); the mean number of decayed teeth was 2.10-/+0.36; and the mean number of filled teeth was 2.27-/+0.37. As to periodontal status, the mean modified CPI index was 1.45-/+0.11. In the control group, the mean Silness and Löe index was 0.94-/+0.00. The mean number of decayed teeth was 1.21-/+0.25; the mean number of missing teeth was 4.97-/+0.67; and the mean number of filled teeth was 4.82-/+0.44. The mean modified CPI index was 1.29-/+0.10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncological patients in our study showed more dental plaque versus healthy patients and more decayed and missing teeth. However, patients in the control group showed more filled teeth than cancer patients. Periodontal status as determined by the modified CPI index was similar in both patient groups.
authors.affiliation: University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica Paula
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: López-Galindo
authors.forename: José V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Bagán
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Soriano
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alpiste
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camps
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications*