Is oral health status of children with beta-Thalassemia worse than that of their normal counterparts?

ABSTRACT

To determine the association, if any, of patients suffering from beta-Thalassema with dental caries, gingival condition and oral health status and compare it to their normal counterparts. A. total of 90 children suffering from beta-Thalassemia and 60 healthy controls [age range 6-15 years] were selected from similar socio-economic and parental education background. Oral hygiene status and gingival condition were examined using Oral hygiene Index-Simplified and Modified Gingival Index respectively. Dental caries was recorded using DMFT /dmft Index according to the criteria described by the World health Organisation. Dental caries status in both primary and permanent dentition was found similar in both the groups of children [p>0.5]. GI score of thalassemic children was 0.73 +/- 1.08 and of the healthy subjects was 0.85 +/- 0.95 [p>0.5], however oral health status of the two groups was found to be different [p<0.005] with a larger number of healthy group having [good] oral hygiene as compared to their thalassemic counterparts. There was no significant difference in the dental caries status and gingival condition of children with beta-Thalassemia as compared to their normal counterparts; however, oral hygiene status of the healthy children was significantly better than children suffering from beta-Thalassemia