A BSTRACT Background: Leukemia and its treatment compromise oral health, increasing periodontal disease risk in children. This study evaluated the long-term effects of periodontal interventions in children with leukemia. Methods: We reviewed records of 85 children with leukemia receiving periodontal treatment at People’s Dental Academy (2010–2020). Data included demographics, leukemia subtype (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ALL, Acute Myeloid Leukemia AML, others), chemotherapy, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation HSCT history, periodontal diagnosis (gingivitis, periodontitis), interventions (scaling/root planing, surgery), and clinical parameters (Pocket Depth PD, Clinical Attachment Level CAL, Bleeding on Probing BOP, radiographic bone loss) at baseline, one, three, and five years. Patients with ≥ three-year follow-up were included. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The cohort comprised 45 ALL, 30 AML, and 10 other leukemia subtypes. At baseline, 70% had gingivitis, 30% periodontitis. Scaling/root planing was most common. At one year, PD (3.2 mm to 2.5 mm, P < 0.001) and BOP (60% to 25%, P < 0.001) significantly decreased. Improvements were maintained at three years (PD 2.2 mm, P < 0.01 vs 1 year) and five years. HSCT patients showed similar improvements. No significant differences existed between leukemia subtypes. One patient experienced minor gingival recession post-surgery. Conclusions: Even after chemotherapy or HSCT, periodontal interventions sustain long-term periodontal health in children with leukemia. The importance of maintaining, as well as comprehensive oral health care and periodontal therapy stares at us from the five-year follow-up data. These results also illustrate the scant literature available on the long-term periodontal effects on these patients, pertaining to integrated dental practices. Further longitudinal research is warranted to confirm these results and identify additional risk factors.
Parihar et al. (Wed,) studied this question.