Oral Characteristics of Prader-Willi Syndrome. Case Series of 20 Patients

Method: Twenty PWS individuals (5-35 years old) were examined at the Postgraduate Periodontal Clinic of the University of Athens. Periodontal status, caries experience, occlusal abnormalities, salivary flow rate and the pH of the saliva were evaluated.

Result: Four patients exhibited localized moderate periodontitis. The mean scores of Plaque and Gingival indices were 71.75% and 55.1%, respectively. The mean dmft/DMFT score was 7.2. Nine patients presented decreased salivary flow rate and one was applying synthetic saliva for saliva replacement. Saliva buffer capacity was determined as medium or high. Occlusal abnormalities including class III malocclusion, overjet, deep bite, crossbites, crowding and dental midline deviation were observed. Eight individuals demonstrated bruxism and wear facets not commensurate with their age.

Conclusion: Οcclusal abnormalities were prevalent in all cases. Bruxism facets were detected in a considerable number of the patients. Periodontitis, which was diagnosed in 4 out of the 20 young patients, has been previously reported in two case reports (12- and 20-year-old individuals) with PWS demonstrating extensive periodontal disease. Further research is required in order to generalize the aforementioned results in this group of patients.