Dental maturity and overall dental health status in children with β-thalassemia major: a case-control study

@article{omair2026dental,
  title = {{Dental maturity and overall dental health status in children with β-thalassemia major: a case-control study}},
  author = {Muniza Omair and Sana Khurram and Ayesha Nadeem and Laibah Salman and Maryam Raza and Dua Tufail and Farzeen Manzar},
  journal = {BMC Oral Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1186/s12903-026-09457-2},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-026-09457-2},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dental maturity and overall dental health status in children with β-thalassemia major: a case-control study
AU  - Muniza Omair
AU  - Sana Khurram
AU  - Ayesha Nadeem
AU  - Laibah Salman
AU  - Maryam Raza
AU  - Dua Tufail
AU  - Farzeen Manzar
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/04
JO  - BMC Oral Health
DO  - 10.1186/s12903-026-09457-2
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-026-09457-2
AB  - Objective: To assess dental maturity and overall dental health status in children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) compared with healthy controls, and to examine their associations with selected clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory parameters.  Methods: A hospital-based observational case-control study was conducted at Dow International Dental College (DIDC), Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), between March 10, 2025, and August 5, 2025. Fifty children with β-TM and fifty healthy controls aged 5–16 years were recruited using purposive sampling. Dental maturity was assessed using Nolla’s method via orthopantomograms. Periodontal and dental health was assessed using simplified periodontal screening score, the Silness–Löe Plaque Index, and tooth mobility, which were subsequently combined to generate an overall dental health grade. Data on transfusion frequency, serum ferritin, hemoglobin, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Analysis was performed in R software using bivariate tests, multivariable regression models adjusted for age, sex, and BMI, and age-restricted sensitivity analysis.  Results: Delayed dental maturity was observed in 56% of children with β-TM and 30% of controls. Children with β-TM showed a higher simplified periodontal screening score and plaque scores than healthy controls. A poor overall dental health grade was observed in 32% of children with β-TM and 6% of healthy controls. In adjusted models, β-TM status was associated with delayed dental maturity (OR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.03–7.91, p = 0.046) and poorer overall dental health grade (OR = 3.17, 95% CI 1.22–8.25, p = 0.018). Within the β-TM group, BMI was associated with delayed dental maturity (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.03–1.26, p = 0.025). Male sex was associated with lower odds of poorer overall dental health grade (OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.07–0.71, p = 0.011), while transfusion frequency was not significantly associated with dental maturity or overall dental health grade in bivariate analyses.  Conclusion: Children with β-TM showed a higher frequency of delayed dental maturity and poorer overall dental health grade compared with healthy controls. BMI was associated with delayed dental maturity, whereas transfusion frequency showed no independent effect. These findings highlight the need for longitudinal studies with age-matched controls, validated dental health assessment tools, and more detailed evaluation of nutritional status, oral hygiene practices, socioeconomic factors and inflammatory markers.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-026-09457-2.
SN  - 1472-6831
ER  -