The Orthodontic Management of an Adult with Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by abnormally shaped red cells. SCD frequently exhibits multisystemic manifestations including oral and craniofacial disorders. Craniofacial features such as maxillary protrusion and more forward growth of the mandible with significantly retruded maxillary and mandibular incisors are common. When a patient with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) needs orthodontic treatment, it is important for the practitioner involved to know about the disease and the respective treatment because of the importance of complete blood supply after application of intraoral and extraoral forces. This article describes a sickle cell HbSS patient with orthodontic problems and how she was successfully managed at the University of Ghana Dental School.