Iskorostenska O. Comprehensive system of caries prevention in children with Down syndrome

The aim of the study was to increase the effectiveness of caries prevention in children with Down syndrome, against the background of their mental development, by comprehensive analysis of dental status, identifying predictors of caries development and complex effects on the pathogenetic links of the disease. Clinical, clinical and laboratory, microbiological, genetic, medical and sociological, clinical and prognostic and statistical research methods were used to achieve this aim. The scientific novelty of the study is to identify and analyse a set of constitutional and genealogical, medical and psychological, behavioural factors and indicative indicators of dental status as risk factors for caries in children with DS. A fortogram of controlled, uncontrolled and conditionally controlled risk factors for dental caries in children with DS was made. The statistical significance of the impact (η2 = 36-87%) of uncontrolled and predicted effectiveness of the impact on controlled risk factors in children with DS was proven. A set of non-invasive clinical and clinical and laboratory research methods adapted for children with DS was developed and implemented. A questionnaire was developed for parents raising a child with DS to assess their dental awareness in order to identify risk factors for dental caries in children. Scientific data on the level of dental morbidity among children with DS were expanded. The prevalence of caries was 57.1 %. Identification of the individual caries intensity index (ICII, P.A. Leus) in children of the main group revealed the highest rates in the group aged 7 to 12 years – 0.71±0.08 which corresponded to the average level of caries intensity.