ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In this study, the prevalence and distribution of dental caries and oral hygiene conditions in a group of patients with β-TM are evaluated and the results compared to age-and gender-matched healthy patients. In addition, oral candida colonization and the density of Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) and Lactobacilli in the total saliva are assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study involved 59 β-TM patients between 6-16 years old (mean: 11.59 ± 3.22), who applied to the Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Akdeniz University, with ongoing follow-up, treatment and regular blood transfusions. All enrolled patients were diagnosed with β-TM by the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University. As a control group, age-and gender-matched healthy 50 patients were included to the study. RESULTS: Plaque (p = 0.001), DMFT (p = 0.009) and DMFS (p = 0.039) indices were significantly higher in the β-TM patients, whereas, the oral hygiene status was significantly lower (p = 0.004). Saliva buffering capacity average was insignificantly but slightly more in β-TM patients(p= 0.131).While S.mutans values were significantly higher in the β-TM patients (p = 0.002), no significant difference was found in the Lactobacillus (p = 0.131) and Candida values (p= 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: DMFT, DMFS, Plaque and oral hygiene indices and S.mutans values were found significantly differ-ent in β-TM patients than healthy, control group patients, in this study
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