Dental arch form in a sample of Iraqi adults with sickle cell anemia using 3D scanning technique: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hematological condition that involves the synthesis of sickle-shaped, hemoglobin with a short lifespan. This study employed three-dimensional (3D) scanning to pinpoint the most common arch form in a sample of Iraqi adults with SCA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included maxillary and mandibular casts of 50 patients (25 male and 25 female) with SCA and 50 participants in a control group (25 male and 25 female). The facio-axial (FA) point was digitized on each tooth's labial or buccal surface using SolidWorks® 2020 software. The dimensions of the arch were calculated using two proportional measures and four linear measurements. The dental arch form was determined using 3M templates, and the arches were categorized as square, ovoid, or tapered to establish the most-common arch form. Chi-square was used to compare arch form distribution, and an independent t -test was used to calculate the difference between the control group and the SCA group.

RESULTS: The tapered arch was the predominant form in SCA males and females for the maxilla and the mandible. The molar vertical distance (upper and lower) was significantly higher in males in the SCA group than in males in the control group. There was no significant difference between females in the SCA group and females in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Most patients with SCA had tapered arches. Sagittal jaw dimensions in males with SCA were more affected by marrow hyperplasia. There was little if any to no effect on females with SCA.