PERIODONTAL ASPECTS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

The Down syndrome is the most frequent genetic anomaly, presenting an incidence of 1/650 births (Winston, 2004). The individuals affected by DS frequently develop a form of aggressive periodontitis which affect both temporary and permanent teeth (Saxen, 1977, Svantum and Gjermo, 1978 a.o.) and can lead to the precocious expulsion of the teeth. Starting with these data, we tried to clinically evaluate the periodontal status in a group of 12 patients with DS, compared to the control group (which comprised 24 children without general diseases) and establish on the basis of clinical indicators (QIII, PBI, CAL) the forms of periodontal disease. Our results showed the preponderance of superficial chronic periodontits (66.67%) in the children with DS, followed by gingivitis (33.3%), the aggressive forms (aggressive periodontitis) not being probably encountered due to the fact that the group was too young for the juvenile stage and however the children were hospitalized in the dental office of Sfanta Maria Policlinics, Iasi.