Assessment of Malocclusion and Orthodontic Needs in Individuals with Down Syndrome

Abstract

Aim: To determine the incidence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment in people with Down syndrome. Place and Duration: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive environmental study on people with Down syndrome held in the Orthodontic department of Punjab dental Hospital, Lahore for one-year duration from March 2019 to March 2020. Material and methods: A total of 75 (37 men and 38 women) people with Down's syndrome aged 6-28 years were clinically examined after obtaining the consent of the caregiver, malocclusion was determined based on the classification of angles and incisors. Exclusion criteria included people who had a history of extraction and orthodontic treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17, with an alpha level of 0.05 and 95% confidence limits. Result: Class III malocclusion and incisor III defect represent the most common type of malocclusion (58.7%) Angle classification, (53.3%) Incisor classification. Malocclusion of the angular class III was more frequent in women (60.5%) than in men (56.8%). Most people with Down's syndrome require orthodontic treatment (85.3%). Conclusion: The incidence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment among people with Down syndrome was high. Class III malocclusion of the angle and incisor, which is the most common feature of malocclusion, is more common in women than in men.