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What dentists should know about sickle cell disease?

What dentists should know about sickle cell disease?

Treatment of the sickle cell patient should be a team approach between dentist, patient, and physician, Dental treatments should be conservative and stress free for the patient. Prevention of dental disease and infections are of the upmost importance to the sickle cell patient.

How does sickle cell affect your teeth?

Teeth may not fit together normally. Many children with sickle cell disease have upper teeth that are further ahead of the lower teeth. There may be spacing between the upper front teeth as well. Severe pain in his or her tooth or jaw without any visible cause during a sickle cell crisis.

Which is a common dental radiographic finding in patients with sickle cell anemia?

Seven oral radiographic features were reported in the literature among SCD patients: large trabecular spaces, increased medullary spaces, thinning of the inferior mandibular border (osteoporosis), interproximal alveolar bone staircase pattern, thickening of lamina dura, resorption in alveolar bone, and radiopacities/ …

What are two issues that a patient may experience with sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell anemia can lead to a host of complications, including: Stroke. Sickle cells can block blood flow to an area of your brain. Signs of stroke include seizures, weakness or numbness of your arms and legs, sudden speech difficulties, and loss of consciousness.

Which of the following is contraindicated in patients with sickle cell disease?

Morphine is considered the drug of choice for the treatment of acute sickle cell pain (Table 2), whereas meperidine (Demerol, Sanofi-Synthelabo) should be avoided because of the increased risk of seizures in patients with renal dysfunction, which can occur in patients with SCD.

What does it mean to have your teeth scaled?

Scaling is when your dentist removes all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) above and below the gumline, making sure to clean all the way down to the bottom of the pocket. Your dentist will then begin root planing, smoothing out your teeth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth.

How does anemia affect oral health?

If the teeth and do not get the nutrients they need because of anemia, they can suffer. They become more prone to tooth decay and gum disease. It can increase the risk of infection and can lead to ulcers and problems with the tongue.

What is mucosal pallor?

Pallor, a perceptible reduction in the usual color and tone of the skin and/or mucosa, may result from alterations of cutaneous blood flow, anemia, or unknown mechanisms.

Can sickle cell cause yellow teeth?

The most common oral manifestations of sickle cell disease are mucosal pallor, yellow tissue coloration, radiographic abnormalities, delayed tooth eruption, disorders of enamel and dentin mineralization, changes to the superficial cells of the tongue, malocclusion, hyperce-mentosis, and a degree of periodontitis that …

What medication should sickle cell patients avoid?