Role of dental hardware in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in the low-risk nonsmoker nondrinker population.

Role of dental hardware in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in the low-risk nonsmoker nondrinker population.

Head Neck. 2018 Jan 22;:

Authors: Yesensky JA, Hasina R, Wroblewski KE, Bellairs J, Gooi Z, Saloura V, Cipriani NA, Vokes EE, Portugal LG, Seiwert TY, Blair ED, Agrawal N

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in nonsmokers and nondrinkers remains poorly characterized. We hypothesized that these patients had prior exposure to metallic dental hardware.
METHODS: We utilized a questionnaire querying the lifetime oral health status of 54 patients. Demographics and extensive oral health history were collected.
RESULTS: The majority of patients (74%) had prior exposure to metallic dental hardware. The younger population with almost exclusively oral tongue cancer had a high prevalence of metallic orthodontic braces (40%) within 15 years before diagnosis. In the 51+ year age group, 82% had crowns, dental implants, and/or dentures with metallic elements.
CONCLUSION: Exposure to metallic dental hardware has increased in the past few decades given the rise of orthodontic braces and older adults retaining more teeth. Although this study does not prove a causal relationship between oral cavity SCC and dental hardware, this is a step toward identifying and investigating their role.

PMID: 29356169 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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