Dental considerations in Thalassemic patients

Abstract

Thalassemia is one of the most confusing hemoglobinopathies. It is a kind of chronic inherited microcytic anemia characterized by defective hemoglobin synthesis and ineffective erythropoesis. It poses definite problems in relation to the dental treatment. Dental professionals should be aware of the nature and course of the disease and its implication on dental care and treatment. The severity of thalassemia varies from minimal anemia to transfusion dependence. Over the last twenty years, management for thalassemia major has improved to the point where we predict almost normal life expectancy of the patient, thus the provision of integral rather than palliative dental treatment must be considered. In this article orofacial, and non-skeletal manifestations of thalassemia are discussed with an overview of radiographic and dental considerations in such patients. The variable anemic condition of the patient, the transfusional and absorptive iron overload and the hyperplastic erythroid masses to compensate anemia complicate even the routine dental procedures in a thalassemic patient .