title: Orofacial manifestations in patients with sickle cell disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to review the orofacial manifestations in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Indexed databases were explored using various combinations of the following keywords: "sickle cell anemia," "sickle cell disease," "oral health status" and "dental inflammation."
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypoxia has been associated with osteomyelitis of the jaws, particularly the mandible in patients with SCD. Bone marrow hyperplasia in these patients causes depression of nasal bridge, midfacial overgrowth and malocclusion. Mental nerve neuropathy due to osteomyelitis of the mandible causes numbness in the lower lip and chin. A diminished blood supply to teeth causes necrosis of the dental pulp in patients with SCD. Dental caries is a common manifestation in patients with SCD, particularly in those with underprivileged living standards. The association between SCD and periodontal inflammatory conditions remains unclear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral health problems in patients with SCD are rare and occur mainly as a result of the poor oral hygiene maintenance.
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. fawjav@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fawad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Fernanda OʼBello
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nooh
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Almas
authors.forename: Georgios E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Romanos
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Hezaimi
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D002680:Chin / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology