Dental follow-up during pediatric cancer treatment

Objective: Identify, on pediatric oncology patients, the reasons and dental procedures performed during antineoplastic treatment. Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis of dental records from pediatric oncology patients treated between 2010 and 2020 was conducted. Results: Forty-one patient records were analyzed, with the majority being male (N=25, 61%), 20 (48.8%) white, and 22 (53.7%) from the treatment municipality. The most common oncological diagnoses were CNS tumors, intracranial and intraspinal neoplasms (19.5%), and lymphomas and reticuloendothelial neoplasms (14.6%). The motivation for dental consultations included dental evaluations (23, 56.1%), carious lesions (8, 19.5%), and oral pain (3, 7.3%). A total of 374 dental procedures were performed, with an average of 8.9 procedures per patient, ranging from 1 to 50 procedures in a single patient. The procedures included 71 glass ionomer restorations, 23 sealant/fluoride varnish/cariostatic, 154 composite resins, 7 amalgams, 11 fluoride, 38 extractions, among others. Conclusion: The findings indicate that pediatric oncology patients not only experience side effects of therapy but also require routine dental procedures, which are often underdiagnosed. Therefore, systematic dental evaluation is crucial, emphasizing the importance of dental monitoring.