Background: Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease caused by replacement of glutamic acid by valine in position 6 at the N-terminus of the beta-chain of globin, thus resulting in hemoglobin S. Aim of the study: To evaluate the periodontal health patients with sickle cell anemia. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Periodontics of the Dental Institution. A total of 60 patients with SCD from the medical hospital were included in the study group. Study group comprised of sickle cell disease patients of both sex and varying age groups. A control group of 60 patients matched for age and sex was also included. Study was conducted for a period of one year. The patients suffering from other diseases known to influence dental caries or severity of periodontal disease were excluded from the study. Results: A total of 60 patients in the study group and 50 subjects in the control group were selected for the study. The mean age of the patients was 43.12 years. The number of male patients was 32 and the number of female patients was 28. The mean plaque index in sickle cell disease group was 2.96+1.53 and in control group was 2.24 + 0.32. The mean gingival index of sickle cell disease group was 2.56±1.12 and in control group was 2.02 +0.75. Conclusion: The periodontal diseases are more prevalentin patients with sickle cell disease. Thus, preventive dental care is very important for patients with sickle cell anemia.
Key words: Periodontal health, sickle cell anemia, anemia.