Subgingival periodontal pathogens in Down syndrome children without periodontal breakdown. A case-control study on deciduous teeth

Authors

  • C Vocale Unit of Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna
  • M Montevecchi Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Unit of Dental Care for Patients with Special Needs and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bologna, Bologna
  • G D'Alessandro Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Unit of Dental Care for Patients with Special Needs and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bologna, Bologna
  • M Gatto Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Unit of Dental Care for Patients with Special Needs and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bologna, Bologna
  • G Piana Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Unit of Dental Care for Patients with Special Needs and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bologna, Bologna
  • L Nibali Periodontology Unit, Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry and Oral Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London
  • MC Re Unit of Microbiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna
  • V Sambri Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2021.22.04.9

Keywords:

Periodontal diseases, Down syndrome, Microbiology, Child, Tooth, deciduous

Abstract

AIM: Down syndrome is the most common form of aneuploidia compatible with a long survival. The affected subjects are more susceptible to severe early-onset periodontal disease and show a lower risk to develop dental caries than the non-affected population. This study investigated the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in the subgingival plaque of deciduous teeth in children with Down syndrome without signs of periodontal breakdown. METHODS: Thirty children suffering from Down syndrome and 46 matched healthy subjects were studied. A total of 228 subgingival plaque samples from deciduous teeth were separately collected and evaluated by polymerase chain reaction assays. CONCLUSION: In absence of periodontal impairment, Down syndrome children display a clear presence of periodontal pathogens already in the deciduous dentition. The hypothesis of an intrinsic predisposing condition is here supported.