Dental Caries in Thalassemia Patients at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University

Abstract

Background and objective: Dental caries is a problem in young thalassemia patients  and  it can lead to rampant decay, infection, pain,  chewing problems and malnutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries in thalassemia patients at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University.

Methods : This cross-sectional study  was  conducted from December, 2005 to  September, 2006  at  Srinagarind  Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen  University. One hundred and four thalassemia patients volunteered to participate in this study.  Data on the patients were collected from medical records, questionnaires and dental examination records. The dental caries status were recorded using the DMFT index. Dental caries was diagnosed by visual examination  using dental mirror, explorer and periodontal probe as per the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. A questionnaire contained demographics and oral hygiene care. We collected type of thalassemia from medical record.  Descriptive statistics used frequency, percent, mean and standard deviation.

Results : The number of thalassemia  patients  were 104. Age averaged was 11+4.8 years old (min-max = 2 – 24 years old). The  β thalassemia and  α  thalassemia  were 71.5% and 28.5% respectively . The prevalence of dental caries was 88.5%. Decayed, missing and filling of deciduous teeth (DMFT) were averaged at 2.28+3.65 teeth/person. Decay, missing and filling of permanent teeth (DMFT) averaged  3.12+3.72  teeth/person.  We found that  #85 #65 #74 #54 in deciduous teeth and #46 #36 #16 #26 in permanent teeth had dental caries more than the other type of tooth.

Conclusion : The prevalence of dental caries in this study was 88.5%  which need the restorative dental care.

Keywords : dental caries, thalassemia