Endodontic treatment in cancer patients
Keywords:
endodoncia en pacientes oncológicos, terapia oncológica, quimioterapia y radioterapia, complicaciones endodónticas en cáncerAbstract
The growing incidence of cancer patients in the dental field motivates the need to consider the effect of cancer therapy on dental procedures, especially endodontics. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can modify pulp response, tooth sensitivity, and healing, which requires a specialized approach to ensure safe and effective procedures. The present study aims to describe the current status of endodontic treatment in cancer patients. A literature review of scientific publications was conducted in specialized databases such as PubMed and SciELO. Using sophisticated search tactics and inclusion and exclusion criteria based on the PRISMA guideline, 695 preliminary studies were identified. Seventeen significant articles related to the topic were selected. The research highlights that patient receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy have an elevated risk of infections, changes in the inflammatory response of pulp cells, and delayed healing. Prior endodontic planning, using conservation methods and antibiotic prophylaxis protocols to reduce the likelihood of complications, is considered most appropriate. Endodontic care in cancer patients requires a multidisciplinary approach, without forgetting the negative impacts of cancer therapy on oral tissues. Adapting treatment, applying conservative tactics, and coordinating with the medical team are essential to optimize results and minimize risks.
Downloads
References
Lima Álvarez L, Rodríguez Álvarez IL, Maso Galán MZ. Eficacia de la técnica paso-atrás en tratamientos de endodoncia en una sesión. Rev Cubana Estomatol. 2019 [citado 09/07/2025];56(1). Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S003475072019000100002&lng=es
Poitevin-Chacón A. La radioterapia, el arma invisible contra el cáncer. Gac. mex. oncol. 2021 [citado 09/07/2025];20(3):84-86. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2565-005X2021000300084&lng=es
Nápoles-González IJ, Álvarez-Rivero A, Santana-Álvarez J, Puerto-Pérez TVa. Atención estomatológica al paciente con cáncer bucal. AMC. 2022 [citado 02/06/2025];26.. Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S102502552022000100066&lng=es
Tempesta A, Capodiferro S, Di Nanna S, D´Agostino S, Dolci M, Scarano A, et al. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw triggered by endodontic failure in oncologic patients. Oral Dis. 2023 [citado 02/06/2025];29(7):2799-2805. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36403223/
Weissheimer T, Barcelos B, Chitolina M, Poli J, Domingues M, Vinicius M. Head and neck radiotherapy effects on the dental pulp vitality and response to sensitivity tests: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Int Endod J. 2022 [citado 02/06/2025];55(6):563-578. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35298027/
Arya L; Brizuela M. Manejo oral de pacientes sometidos a radioterapia. StatPearls. 2023 [citado 02/06/2025]. Disponible en:
Thirumal A, Kheur S, Khurshid Z, Sayed M, Mugri M, Almasri M, et al. The Growth Factors and Cytokines of Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome May Potentially Aid in Oral Cancer Proliferation. Molecules. 2021. [citado 02/06/2025];26(18):5683. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34577154/
Gil Milá JD, Maestre Cabello JR, Martínez Gómez K. Caracterización de pacientes con cáncer oral y su relación con la invasión en profundidad. Rev. Finlay. 2021 [citado 09/07/2025];11(4):343-351. Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S222124342021000400343&lng=es
Gupta N, Grewal M, Gairola M, Grewal S, Ahlawal P. Dental Pulp Status of Posterior Teeth in Patients with Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy: 1-year Follow-up. J Endod. 2018 [citado 09/07/2025];44(4):549-554. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29452716/
Herrera-Ccoicca MC, Petkova-Gueorguieva M, Chumpitaz-Cerrate1 V, Chávez Rimache LK. Conocimientos sobre cáncer bucal en pacientes odontológicos de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Rev Cubana Estomatol 2020 Mar [citado 09/07/2025];57(1). Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S003475072020000100006&lng=es
Martins C, Leoni G, Oliveira H, Arid J, Queiroz A, Silva L, et al. Influence of therapeutic cancer radiation on the bond strength of an epoxy- or an MTA-based sealer to root dentine. Int Endod J. 2016 [citado 09/07/2025];49(11):1065-1072. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26426161/
Hamoy S, Setzer F, Gondim E, Rodrigues E, Joffily C, Faciola O, et al. Late Effects of Head and Neck Radiotherapy on Pulp Vitality Assessed by Pulse Oximetry. J Endod. 2016 [citado 09/07/2025];42(6):886-9. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27071975/
Garg H, Grewal M, Rawat S, Suhag A, Bihari P, Grewal S, et al. Dental Pulp Status of Posterior Teeth in Patients with Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy. J Endod. 2015 [citado 09/07/2025];41(11):1830-3. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26433856/
Napolitano L, Palma R, Garcia F, Olivera H, Filho P, Bezerra P, et alRadiation therapy alters microhardness and microstructure of enamel and dentin of permanent human teeth. J Dent. 2014 [citado 09/07/2025];42(8):986-92. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24887361/
Faria K, Brandão T, Prado A, Gouvêa A, Carvalho I, Arruda F, et al. Micromorphology of the dental pulp is highly preserved in cancer patients who underwent head and neck radiotherapy. J Endod. 2014 [citado 09/07/2025];40(10):1553-9. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25150372/
Nápoles-González IJ, Santana-Álvarez J, Álvarez-Rivero A, Puerto-Pérez Tania Va. Radioterapia en cáncer de la región maxilofacial. AMC 2022 [citado 09/07/2025];26:. Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S102502552022000100034&lng=es
Mateo-Sidrón Antón MC, Somacarrera Pérez ML. Cáncer oral: genética, prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento. revisión de la literatura. Av Odontoestomatol. 2015 [citado 09/07/2025];31(4):247-259. Disponible en: http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S021312852015000400002&lng=es
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Daniel Gustavo Cortés Naranjo, Adriana Nicole Tobar Peñaherrera, Cristian Vicente Morocho Segarra
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
ACCESS AND DISTRIBUTION POLICY
All published articles are open access contributions, which are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the primary source of publication is properly cited.
