Dental Considerations in Patients with Down Syndrome

Approximately one out of every 600-1,000 births results in an extra chromosome of the twenty first
group called Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome. Usually most of the dental treatment for persons with
Down syndrome can be carried out in a general dental office with relatively minor adaptations. In
undergraduate dental training there is usually little or no exposure to treating such patients and the
general practitioners may be hesitant to treat these patients with confidence. This chapter
summarizes the unique characteristics associated with Down syndrome that influence dental care and
treatment of this population.