The Prevalence of Caries in Down Syndrome Children at POTADS Foundation

Down syndrome is a Trisomy disorder that causes intellectual and motoric limitations. Caries is a multifactorial disease that causes cavities formation on the surface of the tooth. Caries calculations are using the prevalence formula. Caries prevalence is the number of caries sufferers divided by the total sample. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of caries in Down Syndrome patients in the POTADS foundation. This was a descriptive study on a total of 35 Down Syndrome patients collected through consecutive admissions technique. Caries was assessed by the presence of cavities and brownish-black discoloration on the tooth surface by doing condition using a sonde tool and measured using the prevalence formula. The prevalence of caries in Down Syndrome children at the POTADS Foundation was 83 %. The high prevalence of caries in children with Down Syndrome is caused by a disruption in motor skills and lack of parental supervision. It was concluded in this study that the prevalence of caries in Down Syndrome children at the POTADS Foundation is high.