Down Syndrome Dental Management — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateHuman Disease & Dental ManagementDown Syndrome Dental ManagementORE Part 1

A patient with Down syndrome attends for routine dental treatment. Which factor should particularly influence the dentist's assessment and treatment planning?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: D — Periodontal susceptibility and cervical spine instability

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as C · A = shown as D · C = shown as E

A is correct. Down syndrome is associated with early, severe periodontal disease, so prevention, plaque control support and appropriately close periodontal review are important. It is also associated with atlantoaxial instability; this should be considered when taking the history and when planning positioning, neck movement, sedation or general anaesthesia. B is incomplete because periodontal disease, rather than caries alone, is a major oral-health concern. C ignores relevant medical and dental assessment. D is incorrect because treatment modality is individualised; many patients can be managed with reasonable adjustments and behavioural support. E is incorrect because hypodontia and other dental-development anomalies are more common in Down syndrome.

Reference: Ghaffarpour M, et al. Periodontal disease in down syndrome: Predisposing factors and potential non-surgical therapeutic approaches. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38254289/