Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Occlusal Anomalies in Down Syndrome Children and Their Siblings
Viviana Macho *
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oporto, Portugal.
David Andrade
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oporto, Portugal.
Cristina Areias
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oporto, Portugal.
Ana Coelho
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oporto, Portugal.
Paulo Melo
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oporto, Portugal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The aim of this study was to characterize occlusal anomalies in a Portuguese population with Down Syndrome (DS) and to compare its distribution with that of their siblings.
Study Design: A sibling-matched, population-based and cross-sectional survey was performed.
Methodology: This study involved 132 children with DS and 84 of their siblings, aged 2 to 26 years. Data were gathered through the use of a complete questionnaire and clinical observation. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS® v.20.0 and any p-value <.05 was considered significant.
Results: Seventy six percent of the DS children and 72% of their siblings showed class I of Angle. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding class I (P=.60). Only 4% of the DS children presented class II versus 22% of the siblings (P=.001). Twenty percent of the DS children and 6% of the siblings presented class III (P=.008). The DS group presented occlusal anomalies more frequently, especially posterior crossbite (P<.001), anterior open bite (P=.005) and anterior crossbite (P=.001). Deep overbite was only found in the siblings group (P=.001).
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that children with Down syndrome have more occlusal anomalies than general population.
Keywords: Down syndrome, malocclusion, occlusal anomalies, Trisomy 21.