Down's Syndrome and Oral Care

From Volume 28, Issue 3, April 2001 | Pages 148-156

Authors

Janice Fiske

MBE

Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant, Department of Special Care Dentistry, Kings, Guy's and St Thomas' Dental Institute of King's College London

Articles by Janice Fiske

Hani H. Shafik

BDS

House Officer, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute of King's College London

Articles by Hani H. Shafik

Abstract

Down's syndrome is caused by a chromosomal abnormality and is characterized by certain physical, mental and medical features. A number of these features, such as learning disability, cardiac anomalies and an altered immune system, can have a profound effect on oral health and the delivery of oral care. In turn, this can affect social acceptability and quality of life. The optimum potential of the person with Down's syndrome is achieved via a multidisciplinary approach that involves the members of the dental team from an early stage.

Article