Assessment of Malocclusion and Orthodontic Treatment Need in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease at a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos. -A Pilot Study.

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary autosomal recessive disorder of haemoglobin and mainly affect s the black population. Previouu studies that documented the orthodontic profile of patients with SCD however, did not have uniform
exclusion criteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of malocclusion in El sample of SCD patients receiving care the Haem:itology clinic of LASUTH using the Dental Aesthetic Index.
Method: This descriptive study had a sample of SCD patients that were registered for care for over 4 years at the Hae matology
clinic of LASUTH. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic, dental and orthodontic information of the respondents.
Results: An increased overjet ,3mm was noted in 34.88% of the subjects while about 18.60% of them deviated from a normal
molar relationship. About 30% percent presented with identifiable malocclusion and of these, 26.74% had definite malocclusion
while none had very severe or handicapping malocclusion. The study subjects that had definite or severe malocclusion had
significantly poorer oral hygiene (p=0.000); gingival inflammation (p.0.000); and higher DMFT scores. (p=0.000).
Conclusion: The Orthodontic treatment need in this sample of SCD patients was similar to that obtained in the general population in Nigeria but lower than that obtained in previous studies in patients with SCD. Access to appropriate haematology care may limit the compensatory marrow hyperplasia associated with expansion of the jaws. A longitudinal study design may however be required to validate these findings.