Dental anomalies in patients with down syndrome

Mari Eli Leonelli De Moraes,Luiz Cesar De Moraes,Gustavo Nogara Dotto,Luis Roque De Araújo Dos Santos,Patrícia Pasquali Dotto

doi:10.1590/s0103-64402007000400014

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of dental anomalies in Brazilian patients with Down syndrome. A sample with 49 panoramic x-rays of syndromic patients aged 3 to 33 years (22 male and 27 female) was used. The characteristics of dental anomalies were observed in the panoramic radiographs in both the primary and permanent dentition, according to the ICD (International Classification of Diseases). The corresponding tables and percentile analysis were elaborated. There was a high incidence of syndromic patients with different types of anomalies, such as taurodontism (50%), proven anodontia (20.2%), suspected anodontia (10.7%), conic teeth (8.3%) and impacted teeth (5.9%). In conclusion, patients with Down syndrome presented a high incidence of dental anomalies and, in most cases, the same individual presented more than one dental anomaly.

Highlights

Down syndrome, denominated as trisomy 21, is a genetic alteration in which the affected individuals carry an extra chromosome 21 (1,2)
Unreported reductions in parietal cortex, oft-reported reductions in the temporal lobe and improper neural development might be responsible for the particular features of mental retardation that in some way result from trisomy 21 (3)
Except for two children aged 3 and 5 years, all studied population presented at least, one type of dental anomaly, which gives a high incidence (95.92%). These two children had no dental anomalies in the primary teeth and tehir permanent teeth were at the beginning of mineralization stages

Summary

Introduction

Denominated as trisomy 21, is a genetic alteration in which the affected individuals carry an extra chromosome 21 (1,2). The craniofacial and oral features involved in Down syndrome include brachycephaly (condition where the head is disproportionately wide), usually small nose associated with a low nasal bridge, small maxilla, ogival palate and tong with fissures and papillary hypertrophy (2). Children with Down syndrome have a smaller brain volume than other children. Unreported reductions in parietal cortex, oft-reported reductions in the temporal lobe and improper neural development might be responsible for the particular features of mental retardation that in some way result from trisomy 21 (3). There is no significant difference in dental arch shape between Down syndrome patients and non-syndromic subjects. High frequency of shelf-like palate is decreasing by age

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