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Dental Treatment for Patients with Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46 and is the most common birth defect.
Some oral and dental health concerns are:
- Periodontal disease
- Delayed eruption of primary and permanent teeth
- Increased risk of dental caries
- Tooth anomalies including missing teeth and irregularities in tooth formation
A compromised immune system is a typical characteristic of individuals with Down syndrome. This can lead to a higher rate of infection and can contribute to periodontal disease.
Reduced muscle tone in the head, oral cavity, lips, and cheeks is another characteristic of patients with Down syndrome. This can lead to open bite, less efficient chewing and natural cleansing of the teeth.
Toddlers with Down syndrome may have delayed eruption of teeth until up to three years old and there is an extremely high rate of missing or severely crowded teeth do to an undersized oral cavity.
People with Down syndrome should be educated in proper oral hygiene and should be instructed to brush their tongue when brushing their teeth to reduce the risk of dry mouth (not enough saliva in the mouth).
Dental treatment for patients with developmental disabilities should be the same as that of normal patients.
At Bright Side Dental, our staff is trained to create treatment objectives and handle behavioral management for patients with special needs.
Down syndrome Support Groups:
- National Down Syndrome Society www.ndss.org
- National Down Syndrome Congress www.ndsccenter.org
