Oral and Maxillofacial Manifestation of Thalassemia and Management

Thalassemia is an inherited single gene recessive autosomal blood disease which is characterized by reduced or absent amounts of hemoglobin. There are two basic groups of thalassemia disorders: thalassemia and beta thalassemia. Thalassemia is a world wide disease. It is very common in Mediterranean countries. 5-7% of Pakistani population (approx. 8~10 million) are carrying genes of this disorder. It causes various abnormalities' of various degrees on different organs of patients. It has effect on bone, liver, kidneys, eye spleen, bones of face, maxilla, mandible, pharynx and esophagus- aperture etc. The oral and maxillo-facial manifestation of thalassemia and management not only provide information about the nature and extent of loss, but also provide opportunity to treat them. Research work on various aspect of thalassemia and oral and maxillo-facial manifestation has been thoroughly studied all over the world, particularly in America, England, France, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey, Iran, China and India. In Pakistan some work on other aspects of thalassemia were carried out, but no work on oral and maxillofacial manifestation.