Different approaches to dental management of self-inflicted oral trauma: oral shield, botulinum toxin type A neuromuscular block, and oral surgery

• Published in: Quintessence international (Berlin, Germany : 1985) Vol. 39; no. 2; p. e63
• Main Authors: Santos, Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues, Manzano, Felipe Scalco, Genovese, Walter João
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.02.2008
• Subjects: Botulinum Toxins, Type A - therapeutic use; Bruxism - prevention & control; Cerebral Palsy - complications; Child; Coma - complications; Female; Humans; Laser Therapy; Lip - injuries; Lip - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Protectors; Neuromuscular Agents - therapeutic use; Oral Hygiene; Oral Surgical Procedures - methods; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Self-Injurious Behavior - prevention & control; Spasm - prevention & control; Tongue - injuries
• ISSN: 1936-7163

To assess different approaches to the dental management of lip injuries caused by self-inflicted oral trauma in 7 patients. The patients were grouped based on 3 treatment approaches: group 1, placement of an oral appliance; group 2, botulinum toxin type A neuromuscular block; and group 3, oral surgery. Neuromuscular block can be the first choice of treatment for patients with self-injurious behavior since botulinum toxin A injection is a well-tolerated, safe, and effective procedure, permitting improvement in muscle spasticity, bruxism, range of mouth opening, oral hygiene, and lip trauma. The second option would be the use of the oral appliance, and the last choice is oral surgery. Laser therapy was also found to be effective when applied to traumatic injuries in patients who present self-inflicted oral trauma.