Technical Note of a 3D Printed Stimulating Palatal Plate Prototype for Children with Trisomy 21

Natasha Ferreira Roltenver do Nascimento ¹, Flávio Warol ², Pedro Lima ³

⁰DDS, MSc. Undergraduate Program in Dentistry, Nova Friburgo Health Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Nova Friburgo/RJ, Brazil.

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry +

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March 17, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

A digital workflow for fabricating stimulating palatal plates (SPP) is efficient and safe for infants with Trisomy 21 (T21). This method enhances infant safety and improves tongue posture and lip sealing, offering an improved alternative to conventional methods.

Area Of Science

Biomedical Engineering
Pediatric Dentistry
Orthodontics

Background

Trisomy 21 (T21) often requires orthopedic intervention, such as stimulating palatal plates (SPP).
Traditional fabrication methods pose challenges for infant safety and treatment efficacy.
Digital workflows offer a promising solution for enhanced safety and precision.

Purpose Of The Study

To describe a fully digital workflow for fabricating SPPs for infants with T21.
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the digital fabrication process.

Main Methods

Intraoral scanning of the maxilla using TRIOS3.
Designing the SPP using Exocad software with parameters for individual trays.
3D printing of the SPP using biocompatible materials.
Crucial post-processing stages.

Main Results

The digital workflow resulted in an SPP with excellent adaptation upon placement.
The infant with T21 showed immediate improvement in tongue posture and lip sealing.
The fabricated SPP demonstrated excellent acceptance by family members.

Conclusions

The digital workflow for SPP fabrication is efficient, safe, and recommended for T21 patients.
This digital approach should supersede conventional methods for SPP fabrication.
The printed SPP ensures optimal adaptation and patient/family acceptance.