Down Syndrome And Dental Care
Posted on: 17 December 2018
If your child has down syndrome, then they will have some different dental needs and their teeth may not come in as they did with previous children. The information here is going to help you to know what to expect when it comes to your child's teeth when they have down syndrome.
Expect delayed tooth eruption
When your child has down syndrome, they aren't going to be on a regular tooth schedule with regards to when you can expect to see their first teeth appear, Usually, a child with down syndrome will has teeth that come in when they are around a year old. However, don't be surprised if they are delayed to the point of not coming in until your child is about two years of age. Babies that don't have down syndrome will usually see their teeth come in when they are around 6 to 12 months of age. Your child may not have their full set of teeth come in until they are around 5 years of age, rather than 3 years of age. Your child may also be a few years behind with regards to having their second set of teeth come in.
You may also find that your child has smaller teeth than other children, or that they have some teeth missing. This is common with people who have down syndrome, as is it common for them to also have shorter tooth roots.
Be prepared for issues with your child's bite
The bite is the way in which your teeth situate against one another when you close your mouth. In people with down syndrome who have small or missing teeth, there can be gaps between their teeth. They also tend to have an upper jaw that is smaller in comparison to that of a child without down syndrome.
A child with a small upper jaw and normal sized teeth can experience tooth crowding which can lead to crooked or overlapping teeth. Your child's bite may be off, meaning when they close their mouth the teeth don't align properly. The dentist may suggest crowns to help them achieve a proper bite which will make eating easier and can even prevent headaches that can come from an improper bit.
If your child has crooked or overlapping teeth, then the orthodontist may recommend putting braces on their teeth which can help to straighten their teeth out to correct their bite. You should work in conjunction with both your child's speech therapist and the orthodontist to determine when the best time for braces is, so their speech isn't further delayed more than what's necessary.
Conclusion
It's extremely important for you to take your child in for preventative dental care services regularly. When your child has down syndrome, this can help to prevent many issues that can be made better when they are caught early on.
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