Dental Pulp Status of Posterior Teeth in Patients with Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

IntroductionThe absence of tooth sensitivity has been observed in patients who have undergone radiotherapy. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the pulp status of posterior teeth in patients with malignant oral and oropharyngeal cancer.MethodsTwenty-one patients diagnosed with malignant oral and oropharyngeal cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy underwent cold thermal pulp sensitivity testing and electric pulp testing of 4 teeth, 1 from each quadrant, at 4 points in time (PT): before radiotherapy (PT1), after 30–35 Gy (PT2), at the end of radiotherapy at 66–70 Gy (PT3), and 4 months (PT4) after beginning radiotherapy.ResultsAll 84 teeth tested positive to cold thermal pulp sensitivity testing at PT1 (100%) and 25 teeth at PT2. No tooth responded at PT3 and PT4 (100%). A statistically significant difference (P < .05) existed in the number of positive responses between different points in time.ConclusionsRadiotherapy decreased the number of teeth responding to pulp sensitivity testing after doses greater than 30–35 Gy.