New tongue protector to prevent decubital lingual ulcers caused by tongue thrust with myoclonus.
We treated tongue ulcers in a twenty-two-month-old male child with Gaucher disease and several neuronopathic symptoms, including frequent convulsions. Because the patient was always thrusting his tongue and biting with his upper and lower primary incisors during the myoclonus and convulsions, traumatic decubital ulcers on the dorsum and ventral surface of the tongue were formed. During the convulsions, bleeding and pus discharges were observed. For the protection of the tongue from the teeth, a tongue protector was fabricated from a soft silicone relining material used for dentures. The protector covered the mandibular primary central incisors, the alveolar ridge, and the ventral surface, apex and dorsum of the tongue. The ulcer symptoms completely disappeared after two months of using the protector.
Kozai
K
K
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University School of Dentistry, Japan.
Okamoto
M
M
Nagasaka
N
N
D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D005776:Gaucher Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014061:Tongue Habits / Q000009:adverse effects