Background: Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in nonsmokers and nondrinkers remains poorly characterized. We hypothesized that these patients had prior exposure to metallic dental hardware.
Methods: We utilized a questionnaire querying the lifetime oral health status of 54 patients. Demographics and extensive oral health history were collected.
Results: The majority of patients (74%) had prior exposure to metallic dental hardware. The younger population with almost exclusively oral tongue cancer had a high prevalence of metallic orthodontic braces (40%) within 15 years before diagnosis. In the 51+ year age group, 82% had crowns, dental implants, and/or dentures with metallic elements.
Conclusion: Exposure to metallic dental hardware has increased in the past few decades given the rise of orthodontic braces and older adults retaining more teeth. Although this study does not prove a causal relationship between oral cavity SCC and dental hardware, this is a step toward identifying and investigating their role.
Keywords: dental care; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC); oral health; risk factors.
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