Oral Health Status, Salivary Characteristics, and Cariogenic Bacterial Levels in Children and Adolescents with Haemophilia

Objective: To evaluate oral health status, salivary characteristics, and cariogenic bacterial levels in children and adolescents with haemophilia, and to compare these parameters with those of healthy peers. Methodology: The study included 43 children and adolescents with haemophilia and 40 healthy controls. Both groups were assessed at baseline, and 34 participants with haemophilia were reassessed after six months; controls were assessed only at baseline. Stimulated saliva samples were analysed for flow rate, buffering capacity, and levels of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli. Results: At baseline, the haemophilia group exhibited significantly higher OHI, PI, GI, calculus index, and DMFT scores (p < 0.05). At six months, OHI, PI, and calculus index decreased and no longer differed significantly from the controls’ baseline values, whereas GI and DMFT remained elevated. S. mutans levels were significantly higher at baseline but decreased significantly over time, and lactobacilli levels also decreased significantly (p = 0.001) and were lower than the controls’ baseline values at six months. Conclusions: Children with haemophilia demonstrate compromised oral health; oral hygiene parameters improved after preventive follow-up, although, without a longitudinal control group, these changes cannot be attributed to the intervention alone. These findings underscore the importance of early dental care in this high-risk population.