Orthodontic treatment in long-term survivors after pediatric bone marrow transplantation

Children treated for childhood cancers with both radiation and chemotherapy often exhibit disturbances in dental development. A retrospective analysis of treatment outcome in 10 orthodontically treated children was performed. A questionnaire was sent to each child's orthodontist, and 5 orthodontists reported that he patient's medical condition influenced their choice of tr eatment plan. Three orthodontists, all treating patients with severely dist urbed root development, reported using lighter forces than they used with t he average patient. With regard to complications related to orthodontic tre atment, 1 of the 10 patients showed evidence of root resorption. In 4 of th e 10 patients, the treatment result was judged to be unsatisfactory. This s tudy showed that, although ideal treatment results were not always achieved , orthodontic treatment did dot produce any harmful side effects in childre n who are long-term survivors of childhood cancer.