Tag Archives: syndrome

“And what is this new medication for?” I asked my 23-year-old patient while updating the medical history during her prophy appointment. It took a moment for her to respond before she hesitantly replied, “It’s for my irritable bowel syndrome.” Not surprisingly, many patients don’t want to discuss such personal matters while in the dental chair. My patient seemed much more …

Down syndrome, characterized by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, is a prevalent genetic disorder affecting approximately one in every 700 births in the United States each year.1 Individuals with Down syndrome face physical and intellectual disabilities that present unique challenges in various aspects of health care, including dental care. Here I explore the background, statistics, health …