EVALUATION OF SALIVARY NITRIC OXIDE WITH RESPECT TO DENTAL CARIES AND PERIODONTAL STATUS IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME.

*Dr. Priyanti Dharmadhikari, Dr. Nilima Thosar, Dr. Sudhindra Baliga, Dr. Nilesh Rathi, Dr. Vijaya Dhote, Dr. Pawan R. Joshi

ABSTRACT

Aim – To determine correlation of salivary nitric oxide (NO) levels with dental caries and periodontal status in children with Down’s syndrome. Methodology- Fifty children in the age group of 4-14 years included in the study were divided into control group consisting of 25 healthy children, and study group consisting of 25 children with Down’s syndrome. Caries score of each child was calculated using DMFT/dmft index, oral hygiene status was recorded using simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and periodontal status was recorded using WHO oral health assessment form for children (2013). Unstimulated saliva was collected from each child and NO was estimated using modified Greiss reaction method. Results- Mean DMFT/dmft score of normal children was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that of children with Down’s syndrome. Higher gingival bleeding scores on probing and salivary NO levels were obtained in children with Down’s syndrome, than in normal children. Negative correlation was found between salivary NO levels and caries experience in both groups. Conclusion – Salivary NO plays a protective role against caries pathogens, but does not show a protective role against periodontal pathogens. Increased dietary nitrate may help in increasing salivary NO levels further decreasing dental caries experience among children.

Keywords: Salivary nitric oxide, dental caries and Down's syndrome.