Dental and Periodontal Health in Children with Hemophilia

Original Article

Dental and Periodontal Health in Children with Hemophilia

E Alpkılıç Baskirt ¹, H Albayrak ², G Ak ¹, A Pınar Erdem ², E Sepet ² and B Zulfikar ³

Affiliations: Departments of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery ¹ and Pedodontics ^2,3 , Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University and  Department of Paediatric Haematology‐Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University

Submission Date: 9th June 2009, Revision Date: 14th July 2009, Acceptance Date: 30th July 2009


ABSTRACT

Aim
The aim of this study was to determine the dental and periodontal health of children with hemophilia A in different aspects.

Methods
The gingival index, plaque index, and dmf(t)‐dmf(s), DMF(T)‐DMF(S) scores of 36 children (aged between 6 and 12 years) with hemophilia A and 39 healthy children were analyzed. Type of hemophilia, dietary habits, and frequency of tooth brushing, educational and economic level of the parents, and parents’ dental habits were determined by a questionnaire.

Results
All the analyses were carried out by means of commercial statistical software. Statistical analyses were performed by chi‐square, Kruskal–Wallis and independent t tests. The difference in plaque index scores between the study and control groups (P = 0.077) was not statistically significant. Gingival index scores of the children with hemophilia were statistically higher than the control group (t = 3.10; P = 0.003). No difference was found in dmf(t)‐dmf(s) scores, but DMF(T)‐DMF(S) scores of the study group were statistically higher than the control group (P = 0.001; P = 0.012). The frequency of tooth brushing was defined statistically different between the two groups (P = 0.044). The frequency of sugar consumption by the children with hemophilia was found to be statistically higher than that of the control group (P = 0.006). Although the maternal educational levels of the two groups were similar (P = 0.130), paternal education levels and the economic levels of the study group were statistically lower than those of the control group (P = 0.002).

Conclusion
We conclude that children with hemophilia A have significantly higher GI and DMF(T)‐DMF(S) scores compared with matched, healthy control subjects. Expanded preventive measures, educational, and recall programs should be organized for these “special needs” patients.

Keywords: hemophilia, dental, periodontal, children, DMF

Correspondence: Esra Alpkilic Baskirt, Halıcılar Avenue, Oksuzler Street, No: 18/6 Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey