Objective: Some patients with Down syndrome experience premature edentulism, which can lead to severe alveolar atrophy. This may cause retention problems with purely mucosa-supported dentures and ill-fitting total dentures. The intellectual disability associated with Down syndrome, with an (implied) inadequate ability for compliance, may pose a further challenge to dental treatment. The aim of this case report was to demonstrate that a combined implant-prosthetic denture with bar constructions can, nevertheless, be implemented in elderly Down syndrome patients with limited cooperation ability.
Method and materials: This report is the first to describe the procedure for an implant-supported total prosthetic restoration with bar joint in a 52-year-old edentulous patient with Down syndrome and limited ability to cooperate. Previous dental solutions had severely curtailed the patient's quality of life. By combining various forms of treatment, including behavior management, the course of therapy could be adapted to the patient's cooperation capability.
Results: The implant-supported total prosthetic restoration with bar joint was well accepted by the patient. Moreover, the patient's relatives reported that his life quality had improved distinctly (eg, considerable weight-gain, more positive mood). No impairments of the prostheses were observed during the 24-month follow-up period, and both implants remained clinically inconspicuous.
Conclusion: The lack, or inadequacy, of dental prostheses can impair the life quality of individuals in need of such restorations. Implant-supported dentures in combination with a bar construction improve the retention of prostheses in atrophied jaws. This form of restoration is also proving to be a successful therapy option for elderly persons with Down syndrome.
Keywords: Down syndrome; behavior management; edentulism; implant-supported prosthesis; intellectual disability; oral rehabilitation.