Prevalence of orofacial alterations in patients with sickle-cell disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of orofacial alterations in sickle-cell disease (SCD) and to compare it with the general population.

Study design: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. The search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, gray literature, and references of the included articles.

Results: A total of 770 records were found, and 28 studies were selected. In SCD, the prevalence of decreased bone density was 57% (95% CI: 35%-80%), with Q: P < .01 and I² = 95%; for stepladder pattern was 30% (IC: 13%-47%), Q: P < .01 and I²: 93%; for delayed eruption was 20% (95% CI: 6%-34%), with Q: P < .01 and I² = 86, Q: P < .01 and I² = 99%; and for malocclusion, 66% (95% CI: 39%-92%), Q: P < .01 and I² = 98%. A high risk of bias was observed in relation to the sample size of the studies. A limited number of articles compared the prevalence of orofacial alterations in patients with SCD and healthy individuals.

Conclusions: Decreased bone density, malocclusion, orofacial pain, tooth necrosis, eruption delay, periodontal disease, and neuropathies may be present in patients with SCD with variable prevalence.