Prevalencia del síndrome de Down en comunidades aborígenes argentinas: sus manifestaciones orofaciales.

A number of diseases have been reported in the orofacial complex such as periodontitis, tooth decay, malocclusions and deficiencies in the regulation of the oral musculature. Varied preventive and therapeutical programs have proposed to treat them. Early stimulation has greatly contributed to the large extent to avoid the development of secondary malformations that impede a proper work of oral structures. There is a cultural variation in the manner the stimuli are spontaneously applied in the education of the mongoloid child. They have a repercussion onto the conformation of the whole body and personality of the individual and the orofacial complex. This investigation shows the existence of individuals with the Down's Syndrome in indigenous argentinean communities and the predominance of ethnic-cultural and enviromental factors in the manifestation of oral features in these children. Nineteen aborigines with the Trisomy 21 (aged 4 to 16 years old) that belonged to tobas, wichis, mapuches and kollas ethnic groups, were clinically examined. Relevant data was gathered from field observation of the communities, oral examination and interview with the parents. This investigation call for a profound insight and knowledge of the above mentioned communities way of living. All this facts led to a better understanding of a number of attitudes and customs of their members. These children were matched by age and sex to a control group of children with the Down's Syndrome living in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. Both of these groups had individuals with the Trisomy 21 that were differentiated by their culture and enviroment as variables of main analysis. Prevalence of this genetic alteration was calculated 0,87 in a thousand people, in the aboriginal group. It is suggested that adverse enviromental conditions may affect the survival of this risk group in such isolated areas as these communities, considering their congenital heart deffects and frecuent respiratory infections. Concerning the orofacial features, caries levels and periodontal disease shown no significant differences between both groups. No use of conventional methods of plaque control was detected in the indigenous, however they used salty water mouth washes to keep their teeth white. All the members of the control group had their tooth brush as the only alternative for their mouth hygiene regardless their skill and quality of its use. Detrimental effects onto the orofacial conformation from the bottle feeding instead of maternal breast feeding types hereby confirm the results obtained in this research. There is a correlation between a good oral musculature, a proper intermaxillar relationship and the type of food these children receive since they are born. The relation between mother and son and the use of diet as a physiotherapeutic resourse starting with mother breast feeding and followed by a proper sequence of food at later stages may help to a better muscular regulation of the oral complex. Further biochemical, immunological and microbiological studies are needed to determine the right methods to control bacterial cariogenic and periodontopathic plaque. This studies need to be complemented with some anthropological researches to provide it with frames of reference.

• Main Author: Molina, Gustavo Fabián
• Other Authors: Prof. Dr. Eduardo E. Berberián
• Format: Thesis Book
• Published: Córdoba : Facultad de Odontología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 1998
• Subjects: SINDROME DE DOWN; MANIFESTACIONES ORALES; ABORIGENES; TRISOMIA 21
• Physical Description: 108 p.