Abstract
BACKGROUND: The current body of literature on oral health in individuals with Down syndrome (SD) presents contradictory information. Individuals with DS often have distinct oral health difficulties that set them apart from the general population. AIM: This study aimed to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels in the saliva of children diagnosed with DS and explore their association with oral health status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study enrolled 82 participants aged 7-12, comprising 40 children with DS and 42 controls matched based on age and gender. Diagnosing dental caries relied on the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization. Oral hygiene was examined with the plaque index, and gingival health was estimated using the gingival index (GI). To evaluate oxidative stress, unstimulated whole saliva samples were gathered to measure levels of MDA and TOS. The study data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The p value for parametric variables was obtained using Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In this study, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding periodontal health and dental decay. However, children with DS displayed significantly elevated GI values compared to the control group (p = 0.05). Children with DS demonstrated significantly higher MDA levels than the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, DS children demonstrated a higher prevalence of dental caries in their primary teeth than their permanent teeth. CONCLUSION: Children with DS have comparable rates of dental caries to non-DS children but show elevated levels of GI values. Furthermore, children with DS exhibit high levels of saliva MDA compared to their peers without DS. Future research should include a wider age range, additional oxidative stress markers, and factors like diet, lifestyle, and antioxidant supplementation. Longitudinal studies and quality-of-life assessments could offer deeper insights into the oral health of individuals with DS.