Oral Manifestations in Children and Young Adults with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) is an autosomal disorder associated with mental and physical involvement. The typical craniofacial phenotype and the dental anomalies in DS subjects have been widely described, but a systematic report on the manifestations affecting the oral mucosae in children with DS is still lacking. This systematic review aimed to establish the prevalence of oral mucosal manifestations in children/young adults with DS. Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus were investigated in September 2020. Documents in English on DS children/young adults (up to 25 years) reporting oral mucosal findings were considered. Study quality was assessed with ROBIN-I. Of the 150 references retrieved, 14 studies were considered eligible. The risk of bias ranged from low to unclear. Fissured tongue appeared to increase with age and was more prevalent in DS children than in the general population. Lip fissures and cheilitis were heterogeneously reported. Candida spp. carriage with and without active candidiasis was more frequent in DS children/young adults than in controls. C. albicans was the most prevalent species. Few other oral mucosal conditions have been reported sporadically. The heterogeneity of the works revealed the need for more appropriate oral examination to intercept the oral manifestations of oral mucosa and prevent recurrent candidiasis.

Oral Microbiota Features in Subjects with Down Syndrome and Periodontal Diseases: A Systematic Review

“…The typical facial features are as brachycephaly, flat nasal bridge, epicanthic fold, narrowed and slanted eye slits, cataracts, defects of vision and strabismus. The oral district is characterized by dental anomalies (numerical, developmental and eruptive), geographic tongue, fissured tongue, lip fissures and cheilitis, recurrent oral candidiasis [6][7][8], microstomia, macroglossia, advanced tongue position and small chin, resulting in the classical phenotype of a protruding tongue with lip incompetence [1].…”

Avaliação dos movimentos cirúrgicos realizados na cirurgia ortognática em pacientes com síndrome de Down para correção de má oclusão classe III de Angle: revisão de literatura

“…Para Contaldo et al (2021) a trissomia do cromossomo 21 é considerada a síndrome mais comum e adaptável a vida. Sua subsistência é motivada pela idade da mãe, variando entre 1 e 319 a cada 1.000 nascidos vivos no mundo.…”

“…Características orofaciais são os aspectos detectados ao primeiro contato em um indivíduo portador da síndrome de Down. No entanto, o paciente com SD pode apresentar deficiência intelectual leve a grave, retardo de crescimento e defeitos cardíacos, e estão mais sujeitos a desenvolverem hipertensão, leucemia, problemas gastrointestinais e até mesmo o início precoce da doença de Alzheimer (Contaldo et al, 2021).…”

Management of Chronic Ulcer Mimicking Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Down Syndrome Child with Motoric Disorders

“…The incidence of trisomy is influenced by maternal age and differs in the population (between 1 in 319 and 1 in 1000 live births). [1][2][3] Down syndrome is one of the leading causes of intellectual disability. Millions of these patients face various health issues including learning and memory, cancers, leukemia, congenital heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Hirschprung disease.…”

“…1 People with Down Syndrome are more prone to suffer from orofacial conditions such as dental anomalies, malocclusion, periodontal disease, xerostomia, a compromised buffer capacity of saliva, and soft tissue disturbances such as inverted lips and protruding tongues. 2,4,5 They have dysfunctional chewing and swallowing, a higher probability of being mouth breathers, and they are also susceptible to demineralization and dental caries. 6 Uncooperative behavior during dental care, poor oral health, and susceptibility to periodontal disease make people with Down Syndrome at an increased risk for poor oral health.…”