Association between sickle cell disease and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Although dental caries has been widely reported in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), there is still controversial in the literature regarding the association between SCD and dental caries. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether individuals with SCD have more dental caries than individuals with non-SCD. Methods: PubMed and Embase databases were searched for eligible studies. The parameters of the permanent decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the permanent decayed, missing and filled surface (DMFS) index were considered as outcome measures. The overall meta-analyses of the DMFT and DMFS index and various subgroup analyses (caries components, age, and genotypes) of DMFT index were performed to calculate the weighted mean differences (WMD) between patients with SCD and non-SCD individuals. Results: A total of 9 studies covering 1478 individuals were included in this meta-analysis. The results of overall meta-analyses indicated that the scores of the DMFT and DMFS index were not significantly different between patients with SCD and non-SCD participants. The results of subgroup analyses by caries components, age, and genotypes showed no significant difference in most items. The result of the missing teeth was significantly lower in patients with SCD than in non-SCD individuals (WMD, −0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.25 to −0.03; P = 0.01). Discussion and Conclusions: The results revealed that compared with non-SCD individuals, patients with SCD did not suffer from worse dental caries. Considering the limitations, further well-designed studies are necessary to reveal the association between SCD and dental caries. KEYWORDS Sickle cell disease; sickle cell anemia; dental caries; oral health; sickle hemoglobin S; decayed, missing and filled teeth; decayed, missing and filled surface; meta-analysis

Oral microbiota analyses of Saudi sickle cell anemics with dental caries

“…Although a metanalysis report has indicated that there is no increased level of dental caries in patients with SCA in comparison to children without SCA, 27 other reports have shown that there is an association. 7 , 8 , 9 The discrepancy between studies in finding the association between SCA and high DMFT can be due to confounding factors, such as sample size, different countries with different dietary habits, different socioeconomic status, different haplotypes, and different genotypes (homozygous β S /β S or heterozygous β S /β C ).…”

Manifestações Bucais e Alterações Dentárias em Pacientes com Anemia Falciforme: uma Atualização

“…Além das manifestações citadas acima, a doença cárie, possui alta prevalência nos indivíduos com doença falciforme, assim como possuem baixa capacidade tampão da saliva 21 . A cárie dentária pode destruir tecidos duros dos dentes e evoluir para uma pulpite ou periodontite periapical e se não tratada, pode levar a perda dos dentes 22 . As complicações de pulpite e periodontite podem levar a um grave quadro infeccioso, devido ao suprimento sanguíneo em pacientes com doença falciforme 22 .…”

“…A cárie dentária pode destruir tecidos duros dos dentes e evoluir para uma pulpite ou periodontite periapical e se não tratada, pode levar a perda dos dentes 22 . As complicações de pulpite e periodontite podem levar a um grave quadro infeccioso, devido ao suprimento sanguíneo em pacientes com doença falciforme 22 . Alguns autores, entretanto, consideram que as lesões cariosas nesta população refletem a prevalência encontrada na população brasileira 23,24 , assim como a frequência de periodontite 23 .…”

Sickle Cell Disease: An Overview of Oral Health Considerations for Pediatric Patients

“…The association between dental caries and SCD of individuals has been evaluated in several studies with contradictory results [15], [19], [23]- [27]. In a systematic review of 2020, the DMFT index in the subgroup of children/adolescents without SCD was not significantly higher compared to children/adolescents with SCD [28]. Regardless of age-group, the study concluded that SCD did not lead to worse dental caries indices in SCD patients than healthy control participants.…”