Radiographic features of the jaws and teeth in thalassaemia major

This investigation aimed to compare the radiographic changes and root and crown-body lengths of the mandibular first permanent molar in a group of thalassaemic patients with a control group, matched for age and sex.

Panoramic radiographs of 50 thalassaemic patients and 50 controls were examined for the presence of radiological changes. Crown body and root lengths were determined using the method of Seow and Lai. The average lengths were calculated and compared between the two groups.

The mean crown-body and root lengths of the mandibular first molar of patients with thalassaemia major were 9.58+/-0.83 mm and 11.89+/-1.33 mm, while those for the control group were 10.45+/-0.78 mm and 12.78+/-1.67 mm, respectively. A significant difference (P<0.05) was found between the mean crown-body and root values of the two groups. A significant difference (P<0.05) was also found between thalassaemic patients and controls in the occurrence of spiky-shaped roots, root and crown lengths, taurodontism, attenuated lamina dura, enlarged bone marrow spaces, small maxillary sinuses, faint inferior alveolar canal and thin cortex of the mandible.

While thalassaemia major may not be associated with the occurrence of either vascular canals or prominent antegonial notch, spiky-shaped and short roots, taurodonts, attenuated lamina dura, enlarged bone marrow spaces, small maxillary sinuses, absence of inferior alveolar canal and thin cortex of the mandible were found to be reliable diagnostic criteria for thalassaemia major.