OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of periodic preventive care on the progression of periodontal disease in 24 young adults with Down's syndrome (DS) (mean age+/-SD: 20.8+/-5.6 years) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups: 13 subjects who had frequently visited our clinic (mean interval between visits: 3.7+/-1.3 months; managed group) and 11 subjects who had not visited our clinic for more than 1 year (mean duration of no visits: 27.5+/-10.1 months; interrupted group). The progression of periodontal disease in the subjects was evaluated clinically, microbiologically and roentgenologically. RESULTS: Clinical parameters (probing depth, frequency of the presence of a pathological periodontal pocket, alveolar bone loss, frequency of the incidence of pathological bone loss, and modified total PMA (M-PMA)) and benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA) scores in the interrupted group were significantly higher than those in the managed group. Subject age showed significant positive correlations with probing depth and alveolar bone loss. BANA scores showed significant positive correlations with probing depth, alveolar bone loss and M-PMA in the interrupted group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that periodic preventive care is effective for suppressing the progression of periodontal disease in young adults with DS.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of periodic preventive care on the progression of periodontal disease in 24 young adults with Down's syndrome (DS) (mean age+/-SD: 20.8+/-5.6 years) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups: 13 subjects who had frequently visited our clinic (mean interval between visits: 3.7+/-1.3 months; managed group) and 11 subjects who had not visited our clinic for more than 1 year (mean duration of no visits: 27.5+/-10.1 months; interrupted group). The progression of periodontal disease in the subjects was evaluated clinically, microbiologically and roentgenologically. RESULTS: Clinical parameters (probing depth, frequency of the presence of a pathological periodontal pocket, alveolar bone loss, frequency of the incidence of pathological bone loss, and modified total PMA (M-PMA)) and benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA) scores in the interrupted group were significantly higher than those in the managed group. Subject age showed significant positive correlations with probing depth and alveolar bone loss. BANA scores showed significant positive correlations with probing depth, alveolar bone loss and M-PMA in the interrupted group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that periodic preventive care is effective for suppressing the progression of periodontal disease in young adults with DS.