The Japanese Dental Science Review

Vol. 44 No. 2       2008

ISSN: 1882-7616      UBIC: 99

SUMMARY

Individuals with Down syndrome often develop extensive gingivitis, and exhibit rapid and generalized periodontal breakdown in early adulthood. Earlier studies reported a significant prevalence of periodontal disease in patients with Down syndrome younger than 30 years old, whereas recent studies have indicated that periodontal disease associated with the syndrome is less severe than formerly thought, likely due to improved dental care at home and the dental office. Although the etiology of the condition is not yet fully elucidated, a number of studies have shown that Down syndrome related periodontitis is caused by such factors as immunological deficiency, poor oral hygiene, fragile periodontal tissue, early senescence, salivary deficiency, and poor masticatory function. In addition, those individuals experience very early colonization by various periodontal pathogens, and exhibit an exaggerated innate immune response to produce inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2 and matrix metalloproteinases. Recent studies regarding Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) provide further evidence for increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral diseases in Down syndrome. In this review, an overview of contemporary findings on the etiology of periodontal disease associated with Down syndrome is presented. KEYWORDS: Down syndrome; Early-onset periodontitis; Dentistry; Dscam.

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