Evaluation of oral findings of hemophilia patients

This study aimed to evaluate the oral hygiene habits and gingival bleeding status of patients diagnosed with severe hemophilia A and B using different indices and to compare the effect of hemophilia on jaw bones in terms of resorption and bone mineral density with the control group. In this study, 48 individuals with severe type A and B hemophilia and 49 age- and sex-matched randomly selected control subjects were included for comparison. The oral hygiene status of all individuals included in the study was evaluated using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index and DMFT index, and inflammation and gingival bleeding values were evaluated using the Gingival Index and Gingival Bleeding Time Index. The amount of bone resorption was evaluated using the Panoramic Mandibular Index, Mental Index, and Alveolar Crest Ratio calculated on panoramic radiographs, and bone mineral density was evaluated using Fractal Dimension values measured on sections taken from the condyle, angulus, and premolar region, and all values were compared with the control group. Statistically, except for DMFT scores, the values of individuals with hemophilia A were significantly different from the control group in all other parameters measured. In conclusion, since the oral hygiene scores and the bleeding tendency of individuals with severe type hemophilia A and B are significantly higher than the healthy population, patients and their families should be informed and educated about this situation and dental visits and oral care procedures should be increased. Both hematologists, dentists, and/or maxillofacial surgeons planning oral surgical procedures in these patients should be enlightened about this issue since the amount of bone resorption is high and bone mineral density is low compared to the healthy population. If oral surgical procedures are planned, the difference in the amount of resorption and mineral densities should be taken into consideration and necessary precautions should be taken.