Abstract
BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent monogenic hereditary pathology associated with the presence of hemoglobin SS in the world. It can affect individuals, leading to changes in the face and body, causing a deficiency in dental and bone tissue formation that can ultimately result in a higher level of predisposition to developing dental caries. This study aimed to evaluate the oral condition of children and adolescents with SCD in comparison with the condition of healthy controls.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 of both sexes from a hematology center in Bahia, Brazil, and subjects without hemoglobinopathies from a public school of the same state (comparison group). There were 124 individuals, 63 in the comparison group and 61 in the disease group. Interviews, dental and periodontal exams using the DMFT and Periodontal Community Index, respectively, were performed, and the salivary buffer capacity and salivary flow rates of the entire sample population were evaluated. The categorical variables were compared using a chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. For comparison of means, the Student’s-t test was used for independent samples that presented symmetrical distribution.ResultsThe study showed that the DMFT was 2.08 (2.71) for the SCD group and 1.05 (1.67) for the comparison group (p = 0.013). For dmft, the values were 2.3 (2.6) and 0.88 (1.2), respectively, (p = 0.018). Exams of the periodontium showed the presence of gingival bleeding and dental calculus, with no statistical significance between groups (p = 0.984). When evaluating salivary flow and buffer capacity, no significant differences were observed for the flow rates (p = 0.485), but the SCD group presented a lower buffer capacity compared with the comparison group (p = 0.006). Individuals who used hydroxyurea had a dmft (2.50) higher than that of the comparison group (2.00), and salivary flow was lower than the normal rate in 70% of the children who did not use this medication.ConclusionChildren and teenagers with SCD had deficient oral health when compared with the comparison group, presenting a higher level of dental caries and lower buffer capacity.
Highlights
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent monogenic hereditary pathology associated with the presence of hemoglobin genotype hemoglobin SS (SS) in the world
A total of 124 children and teenagers were examined, of whom 61 had SCD and 63 were healthy. Their distribution by age, sex, race, educational level of the child and mother, as well as family income are described in Table 1, and no difference was observed between groups
mean of the components D (DMFT) and dmft data are described in Tables 2 and 3
Summary
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent monogenic hereditary pathology associated with the presence of hemoglobin SS in the world It can affect individuals, leading to changes in the face and body, causing a deficiency in dental and bone tissue formation that can result in a higher level of predisposition to developing dental caries. SCD is a multisystemic disease associated with acute illness and progressive organic damage, leading to organ involvement, which may cause changes in development or functioning Individuals with this pathology may present changes in their face, mouth, and teeth caused by the deficient formation of dental and bone tissues [2,3,4], which may, for example, lead to a higher level of predisposition for developing caries diseases [5,6,7]. Few studies are found that associate the presence of dental caries with salivary flow rates and buffer capacity in sickle cell patients [12]; these are essential factors in the development of caries disease [5,6,7]
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