Pathology · patient case question
Which oral manifestation is characteristic of Down syndrome?
Patient case: Girl with Down syndrome attending for treatment
Patient: Girl with Down syndrome (trisomy 21), a minor
Chief complaint: Attends with her mother for examination and treatment.
Background: Trisomy 21. Mother is the primary caregiver.
Current findings: Panoramic radiograph and intraoral examination performed.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Anterior open bite
- A. The tongue is relatively LARGE for the small oral cavity — relative macroglossia, not microglossia. The recall's own annotation confirms this.
- B. HYPOdontia (congenitally missing teeth) is characteristic, not supernumerary teeth.
- C. ANTERIOR OPEN BITE is characteristic, arising from the combination of relative macroglossia, a hypoplastic maxilla, mouth breathing and generalised hypotonia.
- D. Down syndrome is associated with MICROdontia, not macrodontia.
Note: The Down syndrome pattern: microdontia, hypodontia, relative macroglossia, anterior open bite, maxillary hypoplasia, Class III tendency, delayed eruption, fissured tongue and notably aggressive early-onset periodontal disease.