Dental Management towards Sickle Patients: A Literature Review

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is an autosomal dominant haemoglobinopathy in which an abnormal form of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S) polymerizes under low oxygen saturation and alters normal spherical shaped RBCs into sickle shape. In India, sickle cell disease is prevalent in central and southern states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. In various districts like Korba, Kanker, Rajnandgaon, Durg, Bilaspur, Raipur, Dantewada, Bastar, Mahasumund, Dhamtari, Kawardha and Jangjir-Champa of Chhattisgarh, frequency of sickle cell disease are approximately 10%. Screening results suggest that the prevalence of homozygous sickle cell disease was 2.1% and that of heterozygous sickle cell disease was 10% among different tribes. Prevalence rate among schedule tribe was 43.0%, schedule caste was 18.26% and 35.3% among OBC group with the majority of cases reported in Agharia, Kurmi, Teli and Panika castes. Common oral findings of dental hypoplasia, delayed eruption, mucosal pallor, and radiographic changes are noticed in this disease. This paper aims to describe etiology, prevelance of sickle cell disease in chhattisgarh region and the role of dental surgeon for the management of such patients.