Sickle cell disease patients are MOST prone to which dental/medical complication?

Correct answer: A. Infection (immunocompromise from functional asplenia, impaired complement, poor neutrophil function)

• A. Correct. Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients are at significant risk for INFECTION due to: (1) functional asplenia (repeated splenic infarctions destroy the spleen's filtering capacity), (2) impaired complement activation, (3) decreased opsonization. Common infections: pneumococcal pneumonia, osteomyelitis, salmonella bone infections. Additionally, osteonecrosis (AVN) from vascular occlusion, pallor, jaundice, and anemia are concerns.
• B. Gingival hyperplasia is associated with medications (CCB, phenytoin, cyclosporine) — not SCD.
• C. Dilacerated roots are not a primary complication of sickle cell disease.
• D. While multiple caries occur in many patients, they are not specifically more common in SCD.