Evaluation of Relationship Between Demographics and Dental Status in a Defined Group of Iranian Paediatric Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy.
BACKGROUND
Cancer is a major cause of death in children under 15 years of age.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate relationship between demographics and dental status in a defined group of Iranian paediatric patients undergoing cancer therapy.


METHODS
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.


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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran .
Hamed
H
Mortazavi
Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical School. Azad University , Qom, Iran .
Maryam
M
Tashvighi
General Dental Practitioner, Tehran , Iran .
Morteza
M
Azizian
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran .
Hamid Reza
HR
Khalighi
Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran .
Siamak
S
Sabour
Dental Student, Department of Oral Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran .
Amir
A
Movahhedian
Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran .
Maryam
M
Baharvand
Children; Iran; Neoplasm; Tooth