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

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. Results The prevalence of Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Tannerella forsythia was investigated. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Tannerella forsythia were significantly more prevalent in Down syndrome children (respectively 8 and 9 times) than in controls. 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.