Patients With Hemophilia Exhibit Poorer Oral Hygiene Than Health Controls

A study published in Special Care Dentistry has found children and adults with severe hemophilia have poorer oral hygiene than those without the disorder. The study, “Oral Hygiene and Dentition Status in Children and Adults with Hemophilia: A Case-Control Study,” assessed the oral health and dentition status of patients with hemophilia and compared it with age-matched healthy controls. The researchers also explored reasons for fear of dental treatment in this patient population.

Dental care is often neglected by those with hemophilia due to fear of risks associated with dental interventions, according to Hemophilia News Today.

Oral exams were conducted on 100 patients with hemophilia, and 100 age-matched healthy participants. Investigators determined hemophilia patients reported a significantly higher rate of fear of dentists and dental treatment (17%) than healthy controls (4%).

Rates of toothbrushing more than once a day were also higher in healthy controls than in subjects with hemophilia, according to researchers.