title: Dental diseases in subjects with beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether beta-thalassemia major is associated with an increase in the severity of periodontal disease and dental caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 61 thalassemia patients and 63 healthy controls (age range = 6-18 years) were examined for plaque deposits, gingivitis, periodontitis and dental caries using Silness and Löe plaque index (Pl.I), Löe and Silness gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and DMFT, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in Pl.I, GI and PPD scores between both thalassemia patients and healthy control groups (P > 0.05). Dental caries was significantly higher in thalassemia patients group (P < 0.0001) compared to the healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thalassemia is not associated with increased levels of gingivitis or periodontitis but is associated with higher dental caries experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 030, Irbid 22110, Jordan. ahed@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: Ahed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Wahadni
authors.forename: D Quteish
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Taani
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Al-Omari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*