The effect of palatal plate therapy on the growth and development of the maxilla in children with Down syndrome

Background: In children with Down syndrome (DS) the retarded growth potential cause a number of different clinical signs. Morphological deviations and an underdeveloped midface together with hypotonia contribute to increased prevalence of occlusal anomalies. Since the early 1980 ́s orofacial neuro-motor habilitation with palatal plates therapy have been used in Sweden. Aim: to investigate if use of palatal plates for three and a half years could normalise the growth of the maxilla for children with Down syndrome. Material and methods: In a multi-centre, multidisciplinary project started 1995, 42 children with Down syndrome have been followed longitudinally. The children started oral habilitation including palatal plate therapy at the age of 6 months. At the age of four years of age a clinical examination was performed and dental impressions were taken from the 42 children and two age matched control groups; one group with Down syndrome children and one group children with normal development. In this study palatal height, length and width were measured on the dental casts with digital calliper on totally seventy-five casts from three groups of children; one group with DS who had used palatal plates, one untreated DS group and one group with normally developed children. Results: The measurements showed no significant differences in growth and development of the maxilla in DS children who had used palatal plates for three and a half year compared to DS-children who had never used palatal plates. The short observation time, three and a half year, may be one cause why no orthopaedic effects could be