Sickle cell disease increases the risk for which pulpal condition?

• A. Pulpal necrosis
• B. Pulpal sclerosis
• C. Pulp hyperplasia
• D. Pulp stones

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how systemic blood flow issues affect the dental pulp. Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to sickle and obstruct small blood vessels, leading to episodes of reduced blood flow (vaso-occlusion). The dental pulp sits inside a rigid tooth and relies on a delicate vascular supply; when perfusion drops, the pulp tissue becomes hypoxic. Prolonged or repeated ischemia can cause the pulp to die, so pulpal necrosis is a direct consequence of the compromised circulation seen in sickle cell disease.

Other pulp changes—like sclerosis, which is calcification of the pulp chamber due to aging or chronic irritation; pulp hyperplasia, an inflammatory proliferation; or pulp stones, calcifications within the pulp—are not specifically driven by the ischemic risk from sickle cell disease. They can occur for other reasons but do not reflect the heightened vulnerability to pulp death that stem from vaso-occlusive events.