Short-term and long-term results after early treatment with the Castillo Morales stimulating plate. A longitudinal study.

The present study is divided into 2 parts: The first explains the concept of stimulating plate therapy at the Muenster Clinic and the second presents a longitudinal study of mouth and tongue posture in trisomy 21 children treated with this concept. 47 children underwent a pre-treatment examination (Rec1), and 38 attended a first follow-up examination (Rec2) after an average of 4 months of stimulating plate treatment. The second follow-up examination (Rec3) was on average 53 months after the end of treatment and covered 18 patients. Data acquisition was based on standardized parent questionnaires and standardized clinical examination records. Rec2 showed in part a highly significant improvement in orofacial appearance. These results were confirmed by the parent interview, according to which the mouth and tongue posture improved in 76.3% of the children during the time they were wearing the plate. Even when the plate was not in place, the result remained stable in 65.8% of the patients. Up to Rec3, further improvement was recorded in some results. The symptoms: "mouth mostly wide open" and "tongue mostly protruding way over lips" were reduced. The number of children whose tongue was "mostly in the oral cavity" increased correspondingly. At Rec3, the parents also rated the mouth posture in 88.9% and the tongue posture in 77.7% of the children as stable or further improved.