title: Oral Health Status and Salivary Levels of Mutans Streptococci in Children with Down Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The literature on the oral health status of Down syndrome (DS) patients is controversial. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the oral health status and levels of mutans streptococci (MS) in the saliva of DS children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed with 60 DS children and 71 non-DS children aged six to 12 years old. Caries experience, plaque index (PI), and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were recorded. Information about oral hygiene habits was obtained. Saliva samples were collected to determine MS levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of dental caries was similar in children with and without DS. DS children had lower PI and GBI values and a higher toothbrushing frequency. Supervised toothbrushing by parents or guardians was more frequent in DS children and associated with lower PI and GBI. High counts of MS in saliva were associated with caries experience in DS children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Down syndrome children had a similar caries experience, lower plaque index, and lower gingival bleeding index values compared to children without Down syndrome. However, DS children who had caries were more likely to display high counts of mutans streptococci in saliva than non-DS children with caries.
authors: Department of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Maurício José Santos
authors: MJ
authors: Moreira
authors: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Schwertner
authors: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Débora
authors: D
authors: Grando
authors: Genetic Medical Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Lavinia Schuler
authors: LS
authors: Faccini
authors: Department of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. lhashizume@yahoo.com.
authors: Lina Naomi
authors: LN
authors: Hashizume
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data