Savanna Beddoes

DH 222B
June 2, 1016
Down Syndrome
Humans usually have 23 pairs of chromosomes which carry all the information that we
inherit from our parents. Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder
caused by the presence of all, or part of a third copy of chromosome 21 giving a total of 47
chromosomes as opposed to the normal 46. It's this extra genetic material that causes the
physical features and developmental delays associated with Down Syndrome.According to the
National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), one in every 691 babies in the United States is born
with Down syndrome, making Down syndrome the most common genetic condition.
Down syndrome cannot be cured or prevented. Those who have it are born with it. The
exact cause of Down syndrome remains unknown. There is no definitive proof that
environmental factors or a parents behavior during pregnancy causes the disorder. In fact
maternal age is the only factor that has been linked to an increased chance of having a baby born
with Down syndrome. According to the NDSS a 35 year old woman has about a one in 350
chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome, and this chance increases gradually to 1 in
100 by age 40. At age 45 the incidence becomes approximately 1 in 30.
Down syndrome affects the development of both the body and the mind and most of
those diagnosed with it have mild to moderate cognitive delays. A few of the common physical
traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a
single deep crease across the center of the palm. The physical features and medical problems
associated with Down syndrome can vary widely from child to child. While some kids will need

a lot of medical attention, others lead healthy lives. People with Down syndrome are more likely
to have heart defects, and may have problems with their hearing and eyesight. They also tend to
have skin problems and may have a lot of coughs and colds. As they get older, people with
Down syndrome tend to put on weight easily and it is important for them to get plenty of
exercise and eat a balanced diet.
Two types of prenatal tests are used to detect Down syndrome in a fetus:
screening tests and diagnostic tests. Screening tests estimate the risk that a fetus has DS;
diagnostic tests can tell whether the fetus actually has the condition. In 1910 the average life
expectancy for a person with Down syndrome was nine years old. With recent advancements in
medical technology it is now estimated that 80% of those with DS live to be sixty years or older.
The patient I saw for my special needs client was a 51 year old woman with Down
syndrome who was on medication for acid reflux, but other than that was in excellent medical
condition. Her teeth presented with signs of acid reflux as there was erosion on the majority of
her occlusal/incisal and lingual surfaces. For this patient we had to have shorter appointments
and so broke her visits down to three 1 hour appointments. This time frame seemed to work
out perfectly for the patient. She was very easy to treat and cooperated with all steps of the
process. It was important to tell her what it was I was doing before actually doing it, and so I
made sure to do just that. I let her know exactly what I was putting in her mouth and let her see
the items before using them. When she needed breaks, I was careful to give her one right away
and allow her to sit up if necessary. She sees the dentist for a cleanly routinely and so was
familiar with most of the process. For x-rays she seemed to want to bite down very hard, and so
I explained to her to just bite down enough to hold the device in place. She listened very well to
all instruction. I worked slowly and methodically with her and talked to her the entire time

which seemed to really put her at ease. She did really well with listening to instruction. The
doctor that was working at our clinic during the days she visited also happened to be her regular
dentist and so I feel like that helped with making her feel comfortable as well. She did well with
the ultrasonic, as well as with the fluoride treatment, again as long as I made sure to explain to
her what I was doing. This patient ever complained and was extremely compliant. We talked
about using Biotene mouthwash at home after she brushed and she agreed to try and implement
that into her daily routine.