Abnormalities of teeth and jaws in thalassemia pediatric patients.

Abstract

Aims: To assess the prevalence of abnormalities of teeth and jaws in thalassemia patients and their association with the severity and type of thalassemia.

Methods and results: This cross-sectional study was conducted among thalassemia patients, attending the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic at a university hospital in Thailand. Data were collected from medical records, clinical and orthopantomographic examinations. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and binary logistic regression were employed for data analyses. The study included 163 patients, aged 1.9-28.6 years, with 148 accepting panoramic radiographic examination. Dental caries, convex profile, malocclusion, abnormal teeth, small maxillary sinus, absent inferior alveolar canal, and eroded mandibular cortex presented in 93.9%, 76.7%, 86.3%, 22.9%, 52.7%, 49.3%, and 29.7% of the participants, respectively. Severe thalassemia patients had a higher prevalence of malocclusion (p < .01) and small maxillary sinus (p = .02) than non-severe group. Compared to patients with β-thalassemia, those with coinheritance of α- and β-thalassemia demonstrated less malocclusion (p = .03) and small maxillary sinus (p < .001). No significant associations were found between the severity and type of thalassemia with other abnormalities.

Conclusion: Thalassemia pediatric patients manifested several dental and jaw abnormalities, with malocclusion and small maxillary sinuses being associated with severe thalassemia and β-thalassemia.