Panoramic radiographs and dental patients with Down syndrome: A scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome (DS) has increased to 60 years, although poor oral health affects their quality of life. Panoramic radiographs (PRs) are usually well-tolerated by people with DS and can provide valuable diagnostic data for treatment planning and research. Methods A scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published between 1971and 2021 was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews to determine the scope of use of PRs for people with DS.Results: 937 papers were screened, and 52 papers were included and charted into seven categories in this review. A high prevalence of tooth agenesis (TA) and other anomalies were reported in 45% of papers. Severe periodontal disease was considered characteristic of DS in the 1970s-80s and the benefit of timeconsuming treatment was questioned. Since 2000 case reports illustrate that improved oral care, orthodontic treatment, and dental implants under local or general anaesthetic can improve the quality of life for people with DS. Conclusion: PRs play an important role in the diagnosis of anomalies, periodontal disease, and implant planning for patients with DS. This review highlights the gaps in research of caries, pathology, TMJ, systemic disease indicators, and guidelines for dentists. Systematic PR viewing, with a knowledge of characteristic features of DS, will assist diagnosis of pathology and improve comprehensive dental care treatment planning for children and adults with DS.

Analysis of health profile and treatment needs of patients with special health care needs at a Malaysian teaching hospital: A 6-year observation

“…However, surprisingly, no patients with genetic or syndromic conditions were diagnosed with edentulism in this study, whereas other studies have reported various cases of hypodontia and hyperdontia in this group. [ 24 25 ] Hence, the findings of this study suggest further investigation of the SCD clinic’s data, which is required to identify appropriate diagnosis and management of the patients seen.…”

A Comprehensive Review of the Relationship Between Oral Health and Down Syndrome

“…This susceptibility is attributed to factors such as cognitive disability, reduced manual dexterity, and a tendency to be uncooperative with treatment [38•, 39••]. Moreover, DS individuals often exhibit higher plaque indices compared to non-syndromic individuals, which can be exacerbated by dental abnormalities like peg-shaped teeth and dental crowding/malocclusion [40,41]. Nevertheless, oral hygiene may be deemed satisfactory in individuals, typically children aged 10 years or younger, who receive assistance with toothbrushing from their parents or caregivers [42].…”