Lip biting in a pediatric dental patient after dental local anesthesia: a case report.
Self-inflicted lip trauma is a potential complication of dental treatment involving local anesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve, particularly among children. Children presenting with this self-limiting condition are often times misdiagnosed as having a localized bacterial infection. In some extreme cases, children have been unnecessarily hospitalized and treated with systemic antibiotics or surgical interventions. This case report describes a child who bit his lip after a dental appointment and was subsequently hospitalized for monitoring. Pediatric nurses are in a unique position to help parents and primary care physicians properly diagnose and manage this benign condition palliatively.
Chi
Donald
D
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. donald-chi@uiowa.edu
Kanellis
Michael
M
Himadi
Elaine
E
Asselin
Marie-Eve
ME
D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001734:Bites, Human; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000293:injuries*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*