Thalassaemia - part 1: a clinical update for the dental team

Thalassaemia is a genetic disorder that affects haemoglobin function. It is an abnormality of haemoglobin caused by mutation of genes related to alpha or beta globin chains that can be further subdivided into categories. These haematological conditions can vary from mild forms, which present as mild anaemia, to severe forms, that can become life-threatening. The window for dental treatment is often limited by several factors involving medical management, such as the need for antibiotic cover or blood transfusions. The lifetime management of the medical conditions are onerous and can place significant physical and psychological burden on the patient. This paper is part of a two-part series on thalassaemia. Part one focuses on the clinical manifestations patients may present with, treatment regimens and dental implications of such presentations. Part two explores the perspectives of thalassaemia patients on their dental experience. Key pointsScreening in patients with thalassaemia can enable detection of dental disease and facilitate early access to dental care services.Thalassaemia patients can present with a range of orofacial manifestations, which may benefit from early dental intervention.Evaluates emerging therapies for thalassaemia and identifies the dental implications this may trigger.