Periodontal health in Down syndrome: contributions of mental disability, personal, and professional dental care.

Fifty-five dentate patients with Down syndrome (DS) and 74 with mental disability non-Down (MR) were compared to 88 control subjects. Subjects in the MR and Control groups were matched by gender and ethnicity to subjects with DS. All subjects were nonsmokers. Periodontal evaluation included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical periodontal attachment levels. Caries and missing teeth were recorded. Measures of personal dental hygiene and the frequency of professional dental care were also recorded. Most subjects brushed their teeth at least once per day, but did not floss. Both groups with DS and MR had significantly more missing teeth, more BOP, and higher GI and PI levels than the control group. Patients with DS had more attachment loss (AL) than the other two groups (p < .001). Increased AL in patients with DS was not associated with differences in socioeconomic status, personal/professional dental care, or mental disability.