Evaluation of Periodontal Status and Oral Health Habits with Continual Dental Support for Young Patients with Hemophilia

Abstract

Hemophilia is a congenital disorder associated with impaired blood clotting. Routine dental intervention to prevent oral bleeding in patients with hemophilia is considered important, but its effectiveness remains unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of continual dental support on periodontal status and oral health habits in young patients with hemophilia. Of the 168 young patients with hemophilia who visited our clinic for 5 years, we selected subjects who had visited annually since 2015 and were in the mixed and permanent dentitions. To evaluate the periodontal status of these subjects, Community Periodontal Index (CPI) values in the molars and anterior teeth were measured. In addition, a questionnaire regarding oral health habits, including floss use, frequency of brushing by parents, and attending a family dentist, was administered to the subjects and their parents. In the patients with mixed dentition, the CPI values for the upper right molars and lower left central incisor decreased significantly in later years compared with the first year (p p p < 0.01). These results suggest that continual dental support improves the periodontal condition and oral health habits of hemophilic patients, especially those with mixed dentition.

Keywords

• hemophilia
• continual dental support
• periodontal status
• oral health habits