Comparative evaluation of oral and dento-maxillofacial manifestation of patients with sickle cell diseases and beta thalassemia major.

BACKGROUND: Regarding the importance of oral and dental health in patients with hemoglobinopathies and also due to the different results of different studies in this background, in patients with beta thalassemia (BTM) and sickle cell disease (SCD), this study aimed to evaluate and compare the oral and dental manifestations of patients with BTM and SCD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study during the years 2014-2017, a total of 175 patients (with documented BTM or SCD attending to Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Tabriz cities central hospitals) were randomly recruited. Required information was gathered through a thorough physical examination of the oral cavity in a private office and a face-to-face interview by an orthodontist and two dentists. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.

RESULTS: In general, 120 diagnosed patients with BTM (88 males and 32 females) and 55 patients with SCD (25 males and 30 females) attending to Iran largest cities, central hospitals were randomly recruited. We found a significantly higher prevalence (p < .05) of some oral manifestations among the BTM patients (Gingival Index = 2.18 ± 1.300, 1.64 ± 0.963; Decayed teeth = 8.31 ± 3.330, 2.33 ± 1.221; Missing teeth = 3.51 ± 2.016, 1.19 ± 0.820; DMFT = 13.92 ± 7.001, 2.63 ± 1.301) than the apparently healthy people.

CONCLUSION: Finally, the study gives an insight into the various oral and dento-maxillofacial manifestations of SCD and BTM and also reveals an association that exists between the oral and dento-maxillofacial manifestations and systemic health in these patients, thus stressing the importance of the concise and periodic examination of these individuals to perform appropriate preventive dental and periodontal care, and the facilitation of the management of the disease.