Oral Health in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Objective: The aim of the present study was to produce information about oral health conditions as well the dental treatment in children with SCD in the Dental Clinic of Pediatric Institute Martagão Gesteira (IPPMG), at Dental School at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Methods: Data were collected from dental and medical records from all children with SCD, treated tin the IPPMG, from 1997 to 2003. The data were inserted in epi info program in order to be analysed.

Results: The results showed that from a total of 120 children in the pediatric clinic suffering from SCD, with ages varying between 3 and 10 years, only 40 (30%) were referred to dental treatment. In 79% of the cases the indication for dental treatment was not a routine procedure but due to medical diagnosis of dental caries. Ninety per cent of the kids presented dental caries, with a dmf-t of 5.55 and a DMF-T of 2.95 while 17,5% of the sample had dental opacity. Malocclusion was present in 20% of the cases. From the 647 dental treatments given 42.8% were restorative and 57.2% related to oral health promotion. Concerning the use of medicines 77% of the samples used folic acid and 27.5% oral antibiotics. Hospitalization and blood transfusions occurred in 57.5% of the cases.

Conclusion: There is a need of multi-professional training, based on information, early diagnosis and multi-professional approach to treat the pediatric patient with SCD, focusing on health promotion, in a holistic away, where oral health is an important aspect of the general health.