Dental care in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: experiences of children and attitudes of parents.

Objectives: To profile the dental experiences of a group of children diagnosed as suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and to examine: 1) how parents of children diagnosed as suffering from ALL perceive the importance of dental care; 2) parental preferences with regard to the provision of dental care for children with ALL.

Setting: The study was conducted in one of the 22 United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) centres.

Sample And Methods: Data were collected by means of a structured interview, employing an administered questionnaire.

Results: The majority of children had attended a dentist both prior to, and following diagnosis, though the regularity of such attendance was variable and the receipt of dental preventive advice inconsistent. Parents appeared to place a high level of importance on their children's dental care, with more than two-thirds expressing a preference for this to be provided within the Paediatric Oncology Unit.

Conclusions: There is a need to establish means by which regular dental attendance may be encouraged and facilitated in the difficult circumstances posed following diagnosis. All healthcare professionals need to be equipped to give clear, consistent oral health advice. This, together with appropriate preventive measures, should be incorporated in oral care protocols. In accordance with the wishes of parents in this study, it is recommended that a comprehensive paediatric dental service be provided at all UKCCSG centres.