title: Malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment in 8-year-old children with Down syndrome: a cross-sectional population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the arch morphology and the prevalence and severity of malocclusions in 8-year-old children with DS, and to evaluate their need for treatment using the Norwegian Need for Orthodontic Treatment Index (NOTI), and comparing the findings with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  This population-based cross-sectional study was part of a national prospective study evaluating upper airway function, hearing, dental, and craniofacial characteristics in a cohort of children with DS in Norway. The cohort consisted of 32 children with DS and represented 57% of all children born with DS in Norway in 2002. Dental arch morphology and malocclusion were assessed on dental casts. Data were collected prospectively at the TAKO-centre, National Resource Center for Oral Health in Rare Medical Conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the children with DS (100%) had objectively assessed needs for orthodontic treatment, compared with 30% of the normative comparison group. Among the children with DS, 68% were objectively categorized as being in "great need" (Category B) for treatment and the 75% were categorized as having "obvious need" (Category C). In comparison, only 20% of children without DS were in Category B, and 44% were in Category C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates significantly higher prevalence and severity of malocclusions in 8-year-old children with DS compared with control group.
authors.affiliation: TAKO-centre, National Resource Centre for Oral Health in Rare Medical Conditions, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Els-Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: TAKO-centre, National Resource Centre for Oral Health in Rare Medical Conditions, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristoffer P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Katsaris
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Down syndrome; oral health; quality of life