<div>This systematic review investigates the effects of orthodontic palatal plate therapy and other treatments on orofacial dysfunction in children with Down syndrome. Orthodontic management and dental outcomes are not within the speech-language pathologist's (SLP) scope of practice. This summary highlights oral motor function outcomes within the scope of SLP practice.</div>
Not stated
From database inception to August 2017
<div>Controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and observational designs </div>
8
<div>Orthodontic palatal plate therapy (OPPT) combined with additional therapy (i.e., physiotherapy, speech therapy, and/or orofacial regulation therapy) significantly improved oral motor functions (e.g., mouth closure, tongue position) in children with Down syndrome.</div>
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<div>Limitations of this review include the homogeneity of the patient groups, small sample sizes, potential biases, and variability of measured outcomes. Additional research is needed to investigate treatment dosage and the impact of patient characteristics on treatment efficacy.</div>
