RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Disorders in the orofacial complex as well as muscle hypotension in children with Down syndrome can be corrected through orofacial therapy that makes use of a palatal plate. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was to present how parents of children with DS assess the availability of treatment and the therapeutic effects of orthodontic palatal plate therapy on the tongue position and mimetic muscle tension in their children; and to determine whether implementing full Castillo-Morales therapy and using only a palatal plate lead to substantially different results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 100 children with DS between the ages of two months and two years (44 boys, 56 girls) who were treated by means of stimulating plate therapy. The study analyzed responses obtained from the parents to questions included in a questionnaire completed at every visit over a period of two years. RESULTS: The study found that in 50 patients with DS who underwent palatal plate rehabilitation there was a visible improvement of the mimetic muscles, tongue retraction and lip closure. CONCLUSIONS: Early orthodontic palatal plate therapy ought to be an integral part of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation of patients with DS.