A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of the dental status and needs of patients taking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists.

Abstract

Objectives: There is growing literature related to the dental effects of biologic agents. However, little research has evaluated the dental needs of these patients and limited data is available on patients taking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists.

Materials and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed patients taking VEGF antagonists and their respective dental treatments from 2017 to 2023. Patient demographics, decayed, missing, and filled tooth (DMFT) status, and treatment details were recorded and evaluated descriptively. DMFT from this population was compared to patients taking other biologic agents using t-tests.

Results: Twenty-three patients taking VEGF antagonists received dental treatment. Periodontal treatments were the most common (n = 18, 78%), followed by restorative treatments (n = 17, 74%). DMFT data for patients taking VEGF antagonists were not significantly different than values for patients taking other biologic agents, except for patients taking TNF-α Inhibitors, who had significantly fewer missing teeth than patients taking VEGF antagonists (3.88 vs. 8.10, p = 0.01).

Conclusions: The necessity of dental treatment in patients taking VEGF Antagonists is still unknown. Periodontal and restorative treatments were the most common modalities with no complications observed from treatment. While preventive periodontal treatment is routinely recommended, high usage of targeted periodontal and restorative treatments is seen in this population.

Clinical relevance: Minimal evidence exists to date on the delivery of and need for routine dental treatment among patients taking VEGF antagonists. This paper presents a first estimate of dental needs in this population.