Remineralization of primary tooth dental enamel of Down syndrome

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of remineralization on primary tooth enamel between Down syndrome and control.

Methods:

The tooth samples were 9 extracted Down syndrome's primary molars (Down group) and 11 control primary molars (Control group).They are healthy teeth without dental caries. Firstly, the specimen was demineralized and remineralized. Then they were processed for analysis. Secondly, Transverse Microradiography was used for image analysis. After that, we measured the lesion depth(ld), mineral loss value(ΔZ), maximum mineral value(Vmax), minimum mineral value(Vmin), Depth of maximum mineral value(Vmax(ld))and Depth of minimum mineral value(Vmin(ld)).Then remineralization rates were calculated. Finally, the data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test.

Results:

The data of the demineralization test of ld andΔZ were compared and the results showed that the calcification degree of the Down group was lower than the Control group. While the Vmax value of the dental enamel surface was lower than the Control group, the other values did not show any significant differences.

The data of the remineralization test of ld andΔZ were compared and the results showed that the calcification degree of the Down group was lower than the Control group. While the Vmin and Vmin (ld) value was inferior to the Control group.

Furthermore, comparison of the remineralization rates of ld andΔZ both groups showed no differences. However, the Vmax value was larger in the Down group, while the Vmin (ld) value was smaller than the Control group.

Conclusions:

This study concluded a low calcification degree of enamel of Down syndrome in both remineralization and demineralization test. However, the mechanism of remineralization of Down syndrome might be different from the Control.