As you can see Umar really enjoys a nice cold flavored ice pop. Not sure who got him started on these treats, probably me, but anytime he sees any of his siblings with one he gets excited. It has become a house rule, anyone with an ice pop has to share with Umar or he will scream and cry. While I'm sure the sweetness is an attraction for him but mainly it is the cold ice pop that he can rub against his poor teething gums.
One possible factor for children who have Down Syndrome is that their teeth take longer coming in. However to make this even more interesting, they tend to start teething the same time as any other child. What this means is that with some children teething can start about 3 months of age and it is agony for any parent. But when you have a special child like Umar you receive the added bonus of stubborn teeth that still haven't broken through and could take up to possibly a year and half to show up. For Umar slowly and more slowly the upper right is starting to make its way through but I think it is just a tease.
Now this affects Umar who isn't that crazy about the whole teething deal. There are days when he is absolutely miserable with red gums and he can't get enough to sooth him. He bites down on anything including your finger if you try to check out where that stubborn tooth is. At times his appetite slows down which means he'll moan through half the night in hunger or from the discomfort of his gums. Not much I can do for my puddin pop and unfortunately he could be over a year by the time it comes in.
Delayed eruption is not the only dental issue with an individual with Down Syndrome. DS affects the size and placement of jaw bones which impact root size of a tooth and also accounts for the under bite that many individuals with DS have. The size of the tooth is also smaller and some teeth are a bit sharper than what one is used to and some teeth are simply missing.
The small nasal passages that many individuals with DS have also has an affect on dental issues. Because of the smaller nasal passages many tend to breath through the mouth. Because the mouth is smaller the tongue, which appears larger but it is not, tends to push on the teeth which can have a negative affect on their growth. Many individuals with DS have a weaker immune system thus giving way to periodontal disease. It is important to start very early with dental hygiene in order to prevent gum disease and regular check ups are a must in which preventative care can be taken in order to help fight against some of the dental issues patients with DS have.
Dental visits are a nightmare for many children and parents I might add. I remember having to not only hold my children down but at one point place their little xray things in their mouths because they wouldn't let the technician touch them. It takes a very patient dentist to put up with some of the children who visit their clinics and that is even more important when it comes to children with DS.
There are dentists that do specialize in services for children with special needs.
Such doctors are used to handling children who may emotionally need to be consoled more or dealt with much differently. You'll find that these dentists treat children with a wide range of physical and mental needs and their staff is generally trained in the area as well. Of course that is if you live in the land of special needs medical plenty I however live in the land of a different reality. I'm so not looking forward to dealing with that issue.
At this point I'll forget about a dentist search and keep a look out for this stubborn tooth. Umar will remain cooperative on the whole issue as long as we keep giving him those flavored ice pops. We parents tend to learn very early on, bribery works!
Some resources: http://www.ds-health.com/dental.htm
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