Intravenous bisphosphonate therapy does not thicken cementum or change periodontal ligaments of cancer patients

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2017 May;123(5):591-599. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2017.02.008. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

Abstract

Objective: To test the hypothesis that intravenous (IV) bisphosphonate (BP) therapy thickens or alters the micromorphology of cementum and periodontal ligament (PDL) in cancer patients.

Study design: Thirty-two teeth extracted from 24 cancer patients and separated into test (patients who have undergone IV BP therapy, n = 16) and control (patients naive to BP therapy, n = 16) groups were studied. Cementum thickness was measured in 3 different areas of the dental root with polarized light microscopy. PDL was assessed by optical light microscopy and the immunohistochemical expression of periostin.

Results: No significant difference was detected in cementum thickness (apical, P = .06; medium, P = .16; cervical, P = .18) between groups. The numbers of fibroblasts in PDL (P = .56), incremental lines of cementum (P = .51) and the immunohistochemical patterns of periostin expression in PDL (P = .68) did not differ between groups.

Conclusion: IV BP therapy does not thicken cementum or change the micromorphology of PDL.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Dental Cementum / anatomy & histology
  • Dental Cementum / drug effects*
  • Diphosphonates / administration & dosage*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Periodontal Ligament / anatomy & histology
  • Periodontal Ligament / cytology
  • Periodontal Ligament / drug effects*
  • Tooth Extraction

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Diphosphonates
  • POSTN protein, human