Oral Hygiene Habits and Dental Caries Status in Thalassaemic Patients of Larkana: A Cross Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v3i2.244Keywords:
Dental Caries, DMFT, Hygiene Habits, Mouth Mirror, OHI-S, ThalassemiaAbstract
Background: Thalassemia, a prevalent blood disorder in Larkana, poses significant challenges to oral health. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the dental caries status and oral hygiene habits in thalassemia patients, addressing a crucial aspect of their overall health management.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the status of dental caries and oral hygiene habits among thalassemia patients in Larkana.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Fatmid Foundation Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Thalassaemia Centre, Larkana, from October 2020 to May 2022. Oral examinations were performed using a mouth mirror and a blunt ball-ended probe with a 0.5 mm end diameter. Dental caries were diagnosed following World Health Organization criteria, and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) was employed for oral hygiene assessment. Data collection included demographic details and oral hygiene practices, analyzed using SPSS Version 24.
Results: The study comprised 52% male and 48% female participants, with a mean age of 11.61±4.561 years. Dental caries were observed in 73% of the patients. The Oral Hygiene Index score (p = .112) and DMFT Score (p = .837) revealed no significant gender differences.
Conclusion: The study concludes that thalassemia patients in Larkana exhibit poor oral hygiene, with a high prevalence of dental caries. These findings underscore the need for targeted oral hygiene education and caries prevention strategies in this patient population.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Poonam Kumari , Abdul Bari Memon, Shumaila Shaikh, Permanand, Irfan Ahmed Shaikh, Subaiqa Nazir, Sindhu Dodani, Kainat Shaikh, Umer Khan
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