CORRELATION BETWEEN PERIODONTAL POCKET DEPTH AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE IN DOWN SYNDROME CONSIDERING AGE, SEX, NUTRITION, TOOTHBRUSHING

Correlation Between Periodontal Pocket Depth And Periodontal Disease In Down Syndrome Considering Age, Sex, Nutrition, Toothbrushing
Naifatul Aulia Ahmad*  -  Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia, Indonesia
Nuryanni Dihin Utami  -  Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia, Indonesia
Nydia Hanan  -  Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia, Indonesia
Sinar Yani  -  Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia, Indonesia
Listiyawati Listiyawati  -  Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia, Indonesia

(*) Corresponding Author
DOI: 10.30659/medali.8.1.61-68

Supp. File(s): Research Instrument Plagiarism-Free Statement Statement of No Dual Publication

Background: Down syndrome is a genetic disorder with a high prevalence of periodontal disease. Increased periodontal pocket depth is one of the important indicators in assessing periodontal tissue damage. Factors such as age, sex, nutritional status, and toothbrushing practice are thought to influence periodontal conditions in individuals with Down syndrome. This study aims to analyze the relationship between these factors and periodontal pocket depth values in individuals with Down syndrome.

Method: This study used an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach involving 40 respondents who met the inclusion criteria. Clinical examination of periodontal pocket depth was carried out using a WHO probe at six points of each tooth. Nutritional status data were obtained through body mass index (BMI) measurements, while toothbrushing practice and respondent characteristics were obtained through structured interviews. Data analysis included Spearman and Chi-square tests with a significance level of p<0,05.

Result: The results showed a significant relationship between age (p=0.000; r=0.646) and toothbrushing practice (p=0.008; r=0.412) with periodontal pocket depth. Meanwhile, sex (p=0.726) and nutritional status (p=0.679) did not show a significant relationship with periodontal pocket depth in individuals with Down syndrome.

Conclusion: The results showed a significant relationship between age (p=0.000; r=0.646) and toothbrushing practice (p=0.008; r=0.412) with periodontal pocket depth. Meanwhile, sex (p=0.726) and nutritional status (p=0.679) did not show a significant relationship with periodontal pocket depth in individuals with Down syndrome

Supplement Files

Keywords: Down Syndrome; Periodontal Disease; Periodontal Probing Depth; Age; Toothbrushing

  1. Vergier V, Collignon A, Gosset M, Bonnet A. Periodontal diseases in Down syndrome during childhood: a scoping review.
  2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05540-2
  3. Ghaffarpour M, Karami-Zarandi M, Rahdar HA, Feyisa SG, Taki E. Periodontal disease in down syndrome: Predisposing factors and potential non-surgical therapeutic approaches. J Clin Lab Anal. 2024;38(1-2):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcla.25002
  4. Umar W, Salim AA, Putri DNCK. The Prevention upon the Congenital Anomalies Effect: A Comparative Study between Indonesia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Indones Comp Law Rev. 2019;2(1). https://doi.org/10.18196/iclr.2115.
  5. Antonarakis SE, Skotko BG, Rafii MS, Strydom A, Pape SE, Bianchi DW, et al. Down syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020;6(1):1-43. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-019-0143-7.
  6. Nuernberg MAA, Ivanaga CA, Haas AN, Aranega AM, Casarin RCV, Caminaga RMS, et al. Periodontal status of individuals with Down syndrome: sociodemographic, behavioural and family perception influence. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2019;63(10):1181-92. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12629.
  7. Scalioni FAR, Carrada CF, Martins CC, Ribeiro RA, Paiva SM. Periodontal disease in patients with Down syndrome: A systematic review. J Am Dent Assoc. 2018;149(7):628-39.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2018.03.010.
  8. Amira S, Fauziah E, Suharsini M. Occurrence of gingivitis and oral hygiene in individuals with down syndrome. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clin Integrada. 2019;19(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.4034/PBOCI.2019.191.145.
  9. Octafianto A, Saskianti T, Wahluyo S, Tedjosasongko U, Novianti A, Sahar D. Gingivitis in Children with Down Syndrome: Review of Local and Systemic Factors. Acta Med Philipp. 2023;57(6):52-8. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.3955.
  10. Puteri MM, Saskianti T, Estu AR, Bornado B, Maulani B, Naomi N. The Correlation between Oral Health Condition in Down Syndrome Children with Physical Fitness: A Literature Review. J Int Dent Med Res. 2022;15(2):922-5.
  11. Roba I, Elena Z, de los Ángeles D, Gustavo S. Prevalence of Periodontal Disease in Young Adults with Down Syndrome. J Oral Health Dent Sci. 2018;2(3):1-7.
  12. Culebras-Atienza E, Silvestre FJ, Silvestre-Rangil J. Possible association between obesity and periodontitis in patients with down syndrome. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2018;23(3):e335-43. https://doi.org/10.4317/medoral.22311.
  13. Barnett ML, Press KP, Friedman D, Sonnenberg EM. The Prevalence of Periodontitis and Dental Caries in a Down's Syndrome Population. J Periodontol. 1986;57(5):288-93. https://doi.org/10.1902/jop.1986.57.5.288.
  14. Morgan J. Why is periodontal disease more prevalent and more severe in people with Down syndrome? Spec Care Dent. 2007;27(5):196-201. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-4505.2007.tb00346.x.
  15. Ziegler J, Spivack E. Nutritional and dental issues in patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. J Am Dent Assoc. 2018;149(4):317-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2017.11.014
  16. Salmiah S, Mustafa NS. Gambaran Maloklusi Dan Kebiasaan Buruk Penderita Sindrom Down Usia 6-18 Tahun Di Slb-C Kota Medan. Dentika Dent J. 2016;19(1):42-6. https://doi.org/10.32734/dentika.v19i1.147.
  17. Al Shayeb KNA, Turner W, Gillam DG. Periodontal probing: a review. Prim Dent J. 2014;3(3):25-9. https://doi.org/10.1308/205016814812736619.
  18. Saptorini KK. Hubungan Oral Hgiene Index (OHI) Dengan Probing Pocket Depth (Ppd) Dan Loss Of Attachment (LOA) Pada Lanjut Usia. J Visikes. 2014;10(2):138-45.
  19. https://doi.org/10.33633/visikes.v10i2.694
  20. Helal, O., Göstemeyer, G., Krois, J., Fawzy El Sayed, K., Graetz, C., & Schwendicke, F. (2019). Predictors for tooth loss in periodontitis patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of clinical periodontology, 46(7), 699–712
  21. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13118
  22. Porovic S, et al. Oral health of Down Syndrome adults in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mater Sociomed 28 (2016): 437-9.
  23. https://doi.org/10.5455/msm.2016.28.437-439
  24. Goud E.V.S.S., et al. Implications of Down's syndrome on oral health status in patients: A prevalence-based study. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021;10(11):4247–52.
  25. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_885_21
  26. López M., Hernández J. Gender differences in periodontal disease prevalence. Int J Periodontol. 2016;11(3):145–53.
  27. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000136767.71518.36
  28. Elrefadi R., et al. Oral health status in individuals with Down syndrome. Libyan J Med. 2022;17(1):2116794.
  29. https://doi.org/10.1080/19932820.2022.2116794
  30. Boukhalfa Y., et al. Prevalence and characteristics of oral and dental anomalies in Tunisian individuals with Down syndrome: a descriptive study. Egypt J Med Hum Genet. 2025;26(1):81.
  31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43042-025-00700-z
  32. Stein Duker L.I., et al. Oral Care Experiences and Challenges for Children with Down Syndrome: Reports From Caregivers. Pediatr Dent. 2020;42(6):430–5.
  33. Kayacı Ş.T., Gezgin O. Clinical investigation of the effects of oral health education in children with Down Syndrome. Med Sci Discov. 2022;9(6):319–23.
  34. https://doi.org/10.36472/msd.v9i6.742
  35. Putri M.H., et al. The effect of using dental and oral health book on the knowledge and skills of parents with Down Syndrome children. Padjadjaran J Dent. 2018;30(3):231–40.
  36. https://doi.org/10.24198/pjd.vol30no3.19277
  37. Saptiwi, B., Subijanto, A. A., & Cilmiaty, R. Problems in Maintaining Oral Health in Children with Down Syndrome: A Pilot Study with In-Depth Interview Analysis. Journal of International Dental & Medical Research, 2023. 16(2).
  38. Makieh R.E., Kouchaji C.N. Nutritional status, dental caries and parental attitude to junior oral hygiene among children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Dent Med Probl. 2025;62(3):409–418.
  39. https://doi.org/10.17219/dmp/174161

Lisensi Creative Commons
This work is licensed under a Lisensi Creative Commons Atribusi-BerbagiSerupa 4.0 Internasional.
Contact us: MEDALI Jurnal: Media Dental Intelektual : Jl. Raya Kaligawe Km.4, PO BOX 1054/SM Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, 50112. Email: odontodentaljournal@unissula.ac.id
apps