A comparison of the sialochemistry, oral pH, and oral health status of down syndrome children to healthy children

Abstract

DS may manifest itself in the salivary glands. Consequently, different electrolyte salivary environment may form, leading to lower caries rates among DS children.

Human Saliva-Derived Exosomes

“…Whole saliva from ten healthy individuals (six females, four males) with a mean age of 56 ± 11 years (range, 40-68 years) was collected into sterile tubes according to the widely used protocol for the collection of saliva (Davidovich et al 2010). Subjects with any conditions/lesions that affect the oral cavity (i.e., infectious, autoimmune, pre-malignant and malignant) were excluded following a thorough examination by a specialist in oral medicine (AZH).…”

Oral Health in Individuals with Down Syndrome

“…Low prevalence of dental caries or tooth decay in both primary and permanent dentitions of DS individuals has been widely reported (Cutress, 1971a;Orner, 1975;Barnett et al, 1986;Vigild, 1986;Ulseth et al, 1991;Gabre et al, 2001;Bradley & McAlister, 2004;Cheng et al, 2007;Dellavia et al, 2009;Davidovich et al, 2010). Cutress (1971a) examined 416 DS subjects and found lower prevalence of dental caries than normal population, but after adjusting the age of teeth eruption, there were only small and no significant difference between 2 groups.…”

“…Various studies have shown a reduced prevalence of caries in DS children when compared with unaffected children Bradley & McAlister, 2004;Cogulu et al, 2006;Davidovich et al, 2010). It has been reported that young DS children had prolonged use of bottle as a result of feeding problems or behavioral difficulties, with increased risk of developing nursing bottle caries (Randell et al, 1992) (Figure 7).…”

“…The low caries prevalence had been postulated to be related to delayed eruption, reduced time of exposure to a cariogenic environment, congenitally missing teeth, higher salivary pH and bicarbonate levels, microdontia, spaced dentition, and shallow fissures of the teeth (Desai, 1997;Boyd et al, 2004). Recently, it has been shown that a different salivary environment of electrolytes and pH is manifested in DS children, leading to the lower reported caries rate (Davidovich et al, 2010) 3.2 Periodontal disease DS individuals usually present with poor oral hygiene and manifested as marginal gingival inflammation, acute and subacute necrotizing gingivitis, advanced chronic periodontitis, loss of attachment in form of gingival recession and increased pocket depth, alveolar bone loss, suppuration or even abscesses, furcation involvement in the molars, increased tooth mobility, and even loss of teeth (Shaw & Saxby, 1986) (Figures 5B & 6). DS individuals had a prevalence of 60 to 90% percent and increased severity of periodontal disease compared with normal age-matched controls and subjects with other mental disabilities of similar age (Cutress, 1971b;Orner, 1976;Barnett et al, 1986;Reuland-Bosma & van Dijk, 1986;, Modeer et al, 1990;Shapira et al, 1991;Ulseth et al, 1991;Desai, 1997;Gabre et al, 2001;Lopez-Perez et al, 2002;Sakellari et al, 2005;Cheng et al, 2007;Khocht et al, 2010).…”

What is the Role of Pediatricians on Oral Health?

“…These higher prevalence relating periodontal diseases cannot only be explained by poor oral hygiene alone and may be the result of impaired immune responses and deficient phagocytic systems (Morinushi et al, 1997). Dental caries susceptibility is usually low in those with Down syndrome (Davidovich et al, 2010). Cleidocranial dysplasia (osteodentin dysplasia) has dental significance.…”