Special Needs Dentistry for Patients with Down Syndrome

We feel it is of the utmost importance that your loved one with Down Syndrome feels comfortable without fear or anxiety so that the dental visit goes as smoothly as it possibly can.

Patients with Down Syndrome frequently need specialized care for their unique dental needs. One reason is due to their higher risk of developing cavities and gum disease. They can also have orofacial and skeletal development problems, which can negatively impact their oral health. It is essential to find the right dentist so that your child or family member receives the best dental care possible.

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we feel it is of the utmost importance that your loved one with Down Syndrome feels comfortable without fear or anxiety so that the dental visit goes as smoothly as it possibly can.

Unique Dental Needs

Each patient is different, and therefore, the degree of difficulty varies from person to person. People with Down Syndrome generally need specialized dental care for many different reasons. Some of the most common oral health factors to consider include:

• Delayed eruption of baby teeth
• Crossbites – where the top teeth lie inside the bottom teeth
• Open bites – where the top and bottom teeth do not touch
• Crowed, missing, or extra teeth
• Decreased crown to root ratio
• Impacted canine teeth
• Higher risk of cavities and gum disease
• Bruxism – grinding or clenching the teeth
• Tongue thrust and mouth breathing

Unique Health Needs

In addition to the oral health factors patients with Down Syndrome face, they also often have complex health factors that must be considered. This is yet another reason why it is important to find a dentist who understands all the potential issues a patient with Down Syndrome may face.

Some additional potential disorders and concerns include:

• Cardiac defects
• Epilepsy
• The fragility of the cervical vertebrae
• Compromised immune system
• Diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Hearing loss
• Vission problems
• Increased risk of leukemia
• Hypothyroidism

Sedation And Patients With Down Syndrome

Many patients benefit from sedation when they visit the dentist. If a patient cannot properly cooperate with a dentist during their appointments, sedation can sometimes be necessary to get the work done.

This is why many patients opt for sedation dentistry, which is exactly what we offer here at The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis. For patients who have Down Syndrome, sedation dentistry is not uncommon at all. In fact, sedation dentistry, or sleep dentistry, is one of the most utilized methods to keep patients calm and relaxed during their trips to the dentist. There are many different sedation levels as well, which range from mild sedation to where the patient is still awake and conscious to heavy sedation, where a patient is completely asleep.

Of course, there aren’t many people who enjoy having someone poke around in their mouths with various tools, and for someone who suffers from serious sensory problems, such as a person with Down Syndrome, sedation can be the best option. Sedation is essential if the patient is in for extensive dental work, such as major surgery, to stay completely still throughout a long procedure.