Malocclusion and treatment need in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of malocclusion and treatment need in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the sample size comprised 35 five-year-old children and 36 adolescents of both sexes, aged between 12 to 18 years, with SCD. Dental occlusion was assessed using two indexes: the Malocclusion Index (World Health Organization) and the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). RESULTS: The prevalence of malocclusion in the preschool children was 62.9%. The main malocclusions observed in this age group were Class II (37.1%), increased overjet (28.6%), reduced overbite (28.6%), and open bite (17.1%). In the 12- to 18-year-old subjects, the prevalence of malocclusion was 100%, and the most prevalent types of malocclusion were maxillary overjet (63.9%) and maxillary misalignment (58.3%). It is noteworthy that the majority of adolescents (80.6%) had very severe or disabling malocclusions. CONCLUSION: The results revealed a high prevalence of malocclusion in children and adolescents with SCD. According to DAI score, the majority of the sample presented with very severe malocclusion and a compulsory treatment need.