Prevalence of oral health problems in a group of individuals with Down syndrome in France

This cross-sectional study describes oral health problems in a sample of ch ildren with Down syndrome (DS) compared with their siblings. Data were coll ected using the Oral Assessment - Down Syndrome questionnaire, a validated French language evaluation to be completed by the child's carer. Parents at tending a national meeting anonymously answered a questionnaire for their c hild with DS and for the sibling closest in age and returned their replies by post. Data concerning 204 individuals with DS (103 males, 101 females; m ean age 9.6 years) and 161 of their siblings (80 males, 81 females; mean ag e 11.8 years) were returned. The association between DS status, age, and or al health was analysed. There was a greater frequency of oral health proble ms in those with DS with regard to function, clinical signs, disability, an d development. The prevalence of chewing problems did not improve with age, the prevalence of bleeding gums and mouth breathing increased with age, an d that of tongue protrusion reduced with age. Most parents rated the genera l and oral health of their children with DS highly, although worse than for their siblings.