title: Sickle cell disease, dentistry and conscious sedation.
abstract: The features of sickle cell disease (SCD) are described. Two case reports of patients treated in a Dental Institute are presented and the dental management of patients with SCD discussed. Since infection is one of the major risk factors for sickle cell crisis, the prevention of oral disease and infection is vital for this group of patients and there is no contra-indication to the delivery of dental treatment under local anaesthetic with inhalational sedation if required in the primary care setting. Since patients with sickle cell disease are particularly vulnerable to the effects of periods of hypoxia, which may produce significant morbidity, and because of the additional practical challenges in sedating this group of patients, intravenous sedation should be undertaken in a specialist unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing prevalence of sickle cell disease highlights the importance of dentists practising in multi-cultural communities having an understanding of this condition and its implications on their clinical practice. This will facilitate the safe management of patients with sickle cell disease.
authors: Department of Oral Surgery, King's College Dental Hospital, London SE5 9RS.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Bryant
authors: Carole
authors: C
authors: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D044383:Black People; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D005260:Female; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D008874:Midazolam