| Summary: | 碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 口腔衛生科學研究所碩士在職專班 === 96 === Background: People with Down syndrome differ from other physically and mentally disabled in particular dental features, e.g. smaller or rounder teeth, which results in lower caries rates. Surveys of the dental health status in Down syndrome are rare in Taiwan; this research will help us to clarify the dental health status for children with Down syndrome.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current dental health status of children with Down syndrome.
Methods: A total number of 105 children with Down syndrome in Taiwan participated in this study, their dental health status was examined and a questionnaire was completed by their parents or caregivers. The samples were divided into four age groups: under 6, 7-12, 13-18 and over 19 years old. A database was designed using Microsoft Access and data were analyzed by statistics software JMP.
Results: The DT, MT, FT, DMFT index, caries prevalence, filling rate of Down syndrome by gender, age group, and severity of disabilities. The DMFT index of females was 2.71 which was higher than that of males. The group aged over 19 years old showed the highest value in DMFT index, DT, MT, FT and caries prevalence and was statistically significant.
There was 58.42% of the people with Down syndrome who had debris on their teeth. The debris index increased with age. and was statistically significant (P= 0.0416). There was not a statistically significant difference in debris index by gender and severity of disability. The same tendency as the debris index was found in the calculus index, but calculus is not so commonly seen and the grade of calculus accumulation is not so severe in the group of children with Down syndrome. The percentage of children with Down syndrome with healthy gingival tissue has decreased with age. Moderate gingivitis is more often seen than mild and severe gingivitis.
Conclusion: The reasons for lower DMFT index in children with Down syndrome may be due to their simple dental features. Moreover, those children, who are members of the Taiwan Down Syndrome Association, may have better oral care and dental treatment, providing this result. However, these underlying factors need further research and articles to be proven.
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