Down's Syndrome: aspects of general and dental

Abstract

Down's syndrome also known as mongolism or trisomy 21 is associated with various craniofacial and dental abnormalities. The first case occurred in 1866. The English physician, John Langdon Down discovered and named this syndrome. Epidemiologists believed that this disease occurs more frequently with mothers who are old when they conceive. The objective of this report is to present a summary of the physical and mental aspects of the trisomy 21, because these patients normally present high incidence of dental agenesia, abnormally formed tongue, malocclusion, a high rate of periodontal disease but some have few dental caries.