PALATAL AND DENTAL ARCH DIMENSIONS IN PATIENTS WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME

The study of dental arch and palatal dimension was carried out in the sample of 34 patients with Down's syndrome (16 males and 18 females). The data were compared to those of a control group matched for age and sex. Hard plaster casts of the patients and of the control patients w ere prepared for measuring width and length of the maxillary dental ar ch and the palatal height and length. All dimensions were significantl y reduced in patients with trisomy 21 (p<0.01). The results indicate t hat the reduced dimensions of the palate and dental arch are the main feature of maxillary structures in DS. Such findings could be attribut ed to the general deficiency of the palatal growth and to the tongue h ypotonia in DS patients.