What Effect Does Down Syndrome Have on Dental Anomalies and Dental Age in Pediatric Patients?

BACKGROUND Dental problems in Down Syndrome are among the most easily detected findings. When the studies in the literature were considered, it was seen that not all developmental anomalies were examined. The aim of this study was to examine more anomalies and compare them with the control group and to obtain more information about the dental findings of Down syndrome by including dental age in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our study, panaromic images and, if available, anterior periapical films of 61 Down syndrome and 61 age-matched non-syndromic pediatric patients were analyzed. The dental anomalies of the patients were determined in terms of size, shape, number and texture, and the age of tooth development of both groups was compared using the Nolla method. FINDINGS Dental shape anomalies were numerically higher in patients with Down syndrome except for dens evaginatus, whereas they were statistically significantly higher only in taurodontism. The frequency of hyperdontia and hypodontia, both singly and in combination, was higher in patients with Down syndrome than in healthy patients. Tissue and size anomalies in patients were also observed to be higher in patients with Down syndrome.Although dental age was found to be older in patients with Down syndrome, it was not statistically significant. In the statistical analysis specific to age groups, a statistically significant difference was observed only in the age group of 8 years. CONCLUSIONS It was showed that in our study ,the prevalence of dental anomalies was higher in children with Down syndrome There was no significant relationship between dental age and the presence of the syndrome. Additional studies with an increased sample size are recommended to support our findings. In this way, it is aimed to improve the current service quality by increasing the existing knowledge about pediatric patients with Down syndrome.