title: Maxillary expansion therapy in children with Down syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate orthodontic treatment with maxillary expanders (MEs) in a group of Down syndrome (DS) children while also analyzing the rate of activation of the appliance, the complications during the expansion phase, and the expansion outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two DS children underwent ME treatment. Sixty-four controls matched for age, sex, and type of ME were selected. The variables analyzed were previous dental treatment, orthodontic diagnosis, and ME treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Slow activation of the ME was used in 28% of the DS patients vs 9% of controls (P > .03). Complications during expansion occurred in 10 DS patients (31%) but in none of the controls (P < .001). The most common complication was the appearance of oral ulcers. At the end of the expansion, the results were considered to be clinically successful in 21 DS patients (66%) and in 50 controls (78%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maxillary expansion can be undertaken in DS children and is successful in a high proportion of cases if correct case selection has been performed. These patients, however, may require a slow activation of the appliance during the expansion phase and are more susceptible to the appearance of oral ulceration, which can affect the course of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Santiago de Compostela University, La Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Outumuro
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Abeleira
authors.forename: Flor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caamaño
authors.forename: Jacobo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Limeres
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diz
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tomás
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009968:Orthodontic Appliances, Removable; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome