Author/Authors :
Ebrahimi Chaharom, Mohammad Esmaeil Department of Operative Dentistry - Faculty of Dentistry - Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz , Mohammadi, Narmin Department of Operative Dentistry - Faculty of Dentistry - Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz , Alizadeh Oskoee, Parnian Department of Operative Dentistry - Faculty of Dentistry - Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz , Savadi Oskoee, Siavash Department of Operative Dentistry - Faculty of Dentistry - Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz , Seyednejad, Farshad Department of Radiation Oncology - Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz
Abstract :
Background and aims. Salivary glands are very susceptible to radiation and any disturbances in their func-tion are detrimental to the hard tissues in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate posterior class V dental caries in patients with head and neck cancers undergoing radiotherapy.
Materials and methods. In this study, twenty seven patients undergoing conventional radiotherapy were included. Class V dental caries of posterior teeth in these patients were evaluated in three intervals: before treat-ment, 3 weeks after the initiation of the treatment, and at the end of the treatment. Differences of mean caries activity between intervals were evaluated using paired sample t-test.
Results. There were no class V decays prior to radiotherapy. Mean percentage of class V caries three weeks after radiotherapy and at the end of radiotherapy were 28.42% ± 14.41 and 67.05% ± 19.02, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in mean values among three stages (P = 0.00025).
Conclusion. The results of the present study revealed that radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers causes class V dental caries on posterior teeth.
