Evaluation of periodontal health in breast cancer patients undergoing tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors drugs therapy: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

AimTo study the dental and periodontal status of women with breast cancer (BCa) having tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors (AIs) treatment in comparison with control healthy women.MethodsFifty‐one women on tamoxifen therapy, 52 women on AIs therapy and 52 systemically healthy controls were included in the study. The total number of teeth, the number of teeth indicated for extraction, the number of decayed teeth, and the duration of medication were recorded. Periodontal status was evaluated with gingival index (GI); plaque index (PI); bleeding on probing (BOP); probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL).ResultsThe lowest number of teeth and decayed teeth was found in AIs users (P < .001 and P = .003 respectively). The highest CAL value was seen in AIs users (P = .042) whereas no significant difference was found between the groups in terms of PI, GI, and PD (P = .102, P = .233, and P = .306, respectively). Lower PI was observed in patients using AIs for less than 2 years (P = .048).ConclusionsWhile tamoxifen did not affect the dental and periodontal condition, AIs medication adversely affected the dental and periodontal condition by more tooth loss and higher CAL.

Original Research: Oral Health Concerns of Female Breast Cancer Survivors on Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy

“…For example, in the aforementioned study by Ustaog ˘lu and colleagues, the researchers found that female breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors lost more teeth and had more clinical attachment loss than healthy controls. 12 Similarly, in an older study that compared the periodontal health of postmenopausal breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors with that of postmenopausal women without a cancer diagnosis, the women taking aromatase inhibitors had poorer periodontal health (deeper probing depths, more sites that bled upon probing, and greater clinical attachment loss), saliva flow disturbances, more dental plaque, more sites with dental calculus, and a poorer oral health-related quality of life. 10 An unexpected finding in our study was that the women who weren't taking adjuvant endocrine therapy had more coronal cavities than the women who were.…”

“…These findings are consistent with those from earlier studies that compared the oral health of women with breast cancer taking adjuvant endocrine therapy with that of women without a past cancer diagnosis. For example, in the aforementioned study by Ustaoğu and colleagues, the researchers found that female breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors lost more teeth and had more clinical attachment loss than healthy controls 12. Similarly, in an older study that compared the periodontal health of postmenopausal breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors with that of postmenopausal women without a cancer diagnosis, the women taking aromatase inhibitors had poorer periodontal health (deeper probing depths, more sites that bled upon probing, and greater clinical attachment loss), saliva flow disturbances, more dental plaque, more sites with dental calculus, and a poorer oral health–related quality of life 10…”

“…10 Ustaog ˘lu and colleagues compared the dental and periodontal status of women with breast cancer who were taking tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor to that of healthy women. 12 The researchers found that the women on aromatase inhibitor therapy had the lowest number of teeth and greater clinical attachment loss.…”

“…In a study by Taichman and colleagues, postmenopausal breast cancer survivors taking tamoxifen were more likely to report having mouth sores or mucositis within the past three months than healthy postmenopausal controls, while those taking aromatase inhibitors were more likely to report xerostomia during that time frame 10. Ustaoğu and colleagues compared the dental and periodontal status of women with breast cancer who were taking tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor to that of healthy women 12. The researchers found that the women on aromatase inhibitor therapy had the lowest number of teeth and greater clinical attachment loss.…”

Association between tamoxifen and tooth loss in women with breast cancer

“…Such dental problems have a negative impact on oral health-related quality of life in this population [11]. A recent study showed that AIs negatively affected tooth loss and attachment loss, while tamoxifen did not affect dental condition in women with breast cancer [12]. To our knowledge, no study has associated tamoxifen with tooth loss, controlling for confounding variables.…”