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An Examination of the Dental Utilization Practices of Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: a Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Author(s) -
Yeazel Mark W.,
Gurney James G.,
Oeffinger Kevin C.,
Mitby Pauline A.,
Mertens Ann C.,
Hudson Melissa M.,
Robison Leslie L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2004.tb02726.x
Subject(s) - medicine , childhood cancer , survivorship curve , cancer , cancer survivor , dental health , gerontology , demography , family medicine , sociology
Objectives : This study characterized the self‐reported dental utilization practice of long‐term survivors of childhood cancer, a group at increased risk for treatment‐induced dental abnormalities. Methods : 9,434 survivors and a comparison group of 3,858 siblings completed a 289‐item survey that included a question on when their last dental visit occurred. Results : Within the last year 60.4 percent of survivors reported a dental visit. The groups less likely to report a recent dental visit include minority subjects, subjects with low levels of educational attainment, subjects with annual household incomes <$20,000, and those without health insurance. No significant differences between survivors and siblings were seen. Male survivors exposed to cranial radiation were slightly more likely than other male survivors to report a recent dental visit (OR/1.27, 95% CI/1.12, 1.44). Conclusions : The dental utilization practices among survivors of childhood cancer are below recommended levels, even among those at highest risk for dental abnormalities.