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Association between tamoxifen and tooth loss in women with breast cancer

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Abstract

Objectives

Investigate the effect of tamoxifen on the occurrence of tooth loss (TL) in breast cancer (BC) survivors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 BC survivors using tamoxifen therapy. Sociodemographic, medical, and dental data were evaluated. TL was determined using the M component of the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Logistic regression models were run to determine associations between the independent variables and outcome (TL).

Results

Mean TL was 12.96 (SD 8.88). Only three participants had lost no teeth and 10.7% were completely edentulous. Participants who used tamoxifen for more than 1 year had a higher mean missing teeth (13.99 vs. 10.45; P = 0.030). After the adjustments, the occurrence of more than 12 missing teeth was 2.75-fold higher among women who used tamoxifen for more than 1 year (95% CI: 1.06–7.12). Moreover, age over 65 years, referral for treatment by the public healthcare system, less use of dental services, xerostomia, and a lower occurrence of dental caries remained associated with the loss of more than 12 teeth.

Conclusion

Longer use of tamoxifen was associated with greater tooth loss in breast cancer survivors.

Clinical relevance.

Based on estimates of the increase in cases of breast cancer, the prolonged use of tamoxifen for the treatment of this disease can exert an impact on oral health through the occurrence of tooth loss. These findings can contribute to the planning and implementation of oral health care and prevention strategies for such patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Franciscan University (UFN), Santa Maria, Brazil

    Felipe de Araujo Sensever, Luísa Comerlato Jardim & Jovito Adiel Skupien

  2. Department of Pathology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil

    Kívia Linhares Ferrazzo

  3. Department of Stomatology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Roraima, 1000, Santa Maria, 97015-900, Brazil

    Raquel Pippi Antoniazzi

Authors
  1. Felipe de Araujo Sensever
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  2. Luísa Comerlato Jardim
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  3. Kívia Linhares Ferrazzo
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  4. Jovito Adiel Skupien
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  5. Raquel Pippi Antoniazzi
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Contributions

Author contribution FAS, LCJ and RPA conceived the study and drafted the original protocol. FAS, LCJ, KLF, JAS and RPA contributed to developing the survey and interpretation of data for the work. All authors participated in, read, and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raquel Pippi Antoniazzi.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical aspects.

This study received approval from the human research ethics committee of Universidade Franciscana (certificate number: 1.876.689), and all procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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All participants signed a statement of informed consent.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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de Araujo Sensever, F., Jardim, L.C., Ferrazzo, K.L. et al. Association between tamoxifen and tooth loss in women with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer 30, 8193–8199 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07271-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07271-4

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