Perception of parents/caregivers on the oral health of children/adolescents with Down syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Oral health affects the general health of people with Down syndrome (DS), with repercussions on their ability to chew and to communicate. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and clinical indicators on the perceptions of parents/caregivers regarding the oral health of individuals with DS. METHODS: Parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire containing sociodemographic information and answered the 20 questions of the Brazilian version of the Oral Health Scale for People with DS. Intra-oral clinical exam of children/adolescents was performed to assess dental caries, periodontal disease, and malocclusion. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and Poisson regression model analyses were carried out. RESULTS: In this study, 55.1% of the parents/caregivers showed a positive perception regarding the oral health of their children/adolescents. Parents/caregivers of individuals between 4 and 9 years old (Prevalence Ratio (PR) = 1.13; Confidence Interval (CI), 1.04 - 1.23; p = 0.003) and parents/caregivers of those with definite malocclusion (PR = 1.14; CI, 1.00 - 1.31; p = 0.047) had a higher prevalence of reporting a more negative perception of their children's/adolescents' oral health. CONCLUSION: DS individuals' age and the severity of malocclusion were indicators of a more negative perception of parents/caregivers regarding their sons'/daughters' oral health.