Rehabilitation of the orofacial complex by means of a stimulating plate in children with Down syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Disorders in the orofacial complex as well as muscle hypotension in children with Down syndrome can be corrected through orofacial therapy that makes use of a palatal plate.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper was to present how parents of children with DS assess the availability of treatment and the therapeutic effects of orthodontic palatal plate therapy on the tongue position and mimetic muscle tension in their children; and to determine whether implementing full Castillo-Morales therapy and using only a palatal plate lead to substantially different results.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 100 children with DS between the ages of two months and two years (44 boys, 56 girls) who were treated by means of stimulating plate therapy. The study analyzed responses obtained from the parents to questions included in a questionnaire completed at every visit over a period of two years.


RESULTS
The study found that in 50 patients with DS who underwent palatal plate rehabilitation there was a visible improvement of the mimetic muscles, tongue retraction and lip closure.


CONCLUSIONS
Early orthodontic palatal plate therapy ought to be an integral part of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation of patients with DS.
Department and Clinic of Maxillofacial Orthopedics and Orthodontics, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Teresa
T
Matthews-Brzozowska
Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warszawa, Poland.
Dorota
D
Cudziło
Center for Dental Techniques and Technologies at the Department of Biomaterials and Experimental Dentistry, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Jolanta
J
Walasz
Department of Maxillofacial Orthopedics and Orthodontics, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
Beata
B
Kawala
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008046:Lip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D010290:Parents; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014061:Tongue Habits; D016896:Treatment Outcome