OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the association between dental tissues and sickle cell anemia (SCA) and how it impacts the quality of life related to oral health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It was a cohort study of 154 Congolese participants with and without SCA conducted in the dental service of SCA at the Yolo Center, Kinshasa, aged at least 6 years and without a history of clinically severe conditions (hospitalization and blood transfusion), who were regularly monitored. The inclusion criteria were the diagnosis confirmation of SCA at the health service in a period of at least 6 months before enrollment in this study. Dental tissues were assessed by a clinical examination using a dental mirror and probe. The index of Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMFT) was used to assess the dental state of the participants. For Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHrQoL), the Congolese versions of the perception questionnaires, modified from the Oral Health Impacts Profile (OHIP-23), were used for participants. Each question had to be answered by yes or no, depending on whether the participant was satisfied (outcome = 1) or dissatisfied (outcome = 0) about an oral health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

Of the 154 participants, aged from 6 to 64 years, with a mean age of 19.5 ± 7 (SD) years, 96 presented with SCA and only 68 were correctly followed; 102 did not present SCA and only 86 were correctly followed. The DMFT and dmft indexes were higher in the SCA group, being 2.9 and 2.5, respectively. The difference between the SCA group and the control group was significant for decayed teeth, missing teeth, filled teeth and no caries. Of the different dimensions of quality of life that were compared between the SCA group and control group, 15 of 23 items were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The present study strongly confirmed an association between dental caries and missing teeth with sickle cell anemia. Secondly, the quality of life for SCA participants seems to be poor, compared to the control group.