A Comparison of the Gingival Health of Children with Down Syndrome to Healthy Children Residing in an Institution

The purpose of this study was to compare the onset and severity of gingivitis in children with Down syndrome, when compared to a healthy control group of children. The subjects included 41 children with Down syndrome ages two to 14 years (mean age: 7.6 years) and 112 age-matched healthy controls. We assessed the gingival health of all subjects using the gingival inflammation (M-PMA) index and periodontal probing depth (PD). Children were divided into three age categories: <5 years (AD, 5 to <10 years (AID, and 10 to <17 years (AIII). Supragingival plaque was measured using the Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and the subjects were screened with the BANA test (Perioscan-Oral-B). Measurement of the M-PMA index in the healthy children showed an age-related increase (F=10.369. p<0.001), and the M-PMA index at the younger age group <5 year (AD was significantly lower than that for the other two age groups AII or AIII (p<0.005, p<0.001). In contrast, the M-PMA index values at AI and AIII in the subjects with Down syndrome were significantly higher than those for healthy children (p<0.001, p<0.001). Both groups had an age-related increase in PD (F=3.388, p<0.05 & F=10.806, p<0.001). and PD at AIII was significantly higher than that at AI in both groups (p<0.01, p<0.001). The children with Down syndrome showed an age-related increase in the BANA test score (F=3.452, p<0.05), and the BANA test score at AIII was significantly higher than that at AI (p<0.02). The BANA test score in the healthy children was not age-related but was significantly higher than that in the children with Down syndrome (p<0.02, p<0.05) .