Effect of palatal plate therapy in children with Down syndrome. A 1-year study.
The effect of palatal plate therapy on oral dysfunction in children with Down syndrome was studied during a 1-year period. Twenty-nine subjects with a mean age of 24 months were randomized to a test group or to a control group. The variables concerning orofacial muscle function--that is, "closed mouth', "tip of the tongue visible', "open mouth', "inactive protrusion of the tongue', and "active protrusion of the tongue'--were monitored by video recordings. After 12 months of therapy the mean duration of the factor "closed mouth' was significantly longer (p < 0.001) and "inactive protrusion of the tongue' significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the test group than in the control group. The results indicate that in children with Down syndrome, palatal plate therapy may be a valuable complement to a training program for improving orofacial muscle function.
Carlstedt
K
K
Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Odontology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Dahllöf
G
G
Nilsson
B
B
Modéer
T
T
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009968:Orthodontic Appliances, Removable; D010159:Palate; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014743:Videotape Recording