RESUMO
The oral health condition of children and youngsters with Down Syndrome (DS) was evaluated on a sample of 86 mongolic subjects ages 3 to 19, both sexes, residents in the city of Córdoba (Argentina), and compared with control groups. Those persons were attended special educational institutions for the care of that type of disabled individuals. In every age group, the dmf-t and dmf-s indexes were higher in the mongolic children than in the control population, while from the age of 10 onwards the DMF-T and DMF-S of the control population were higher than those of the DS individuals. In spite of this, the scarce participation of the DF component in the mentally disabled showed deficiencies in their dental care. This population exhibited a high frequency of retarded eruption, agenesis, conoidism, Angle's type III malocclusion, posterior cross bite and deficient gingival health. A positive correlation was found between tha activity of Lactobacillus and the amount of Streptococcus and the caries indicators. A high concentration of calcium and secretory IgA was found in the group of mongolic subjects. Our analysis evidences that DS patients are at a disadvantage in relation with healthy individuals in terms of oral health. An early program of preventive measures is proposed (dental hygiene, anti-plaque agents, Therapy of Orofacial Regulation) which would involve the education of parents and teachers.