title: A unique case of craniopagus twins: considerations and challenges for dental rehabilitation.
abstract: The purpose of this case report was to describe oral findings and outline challenges and considerations for general anesthetic (GA) and dental management of 4-year-old female craniopagus (cranially conjoined) twins, at high risk for medical comorbidity, who presented for treatment of severe early childhood caries. This hospital-based procedure required good interdisciplinary communication, cooperation, and presurgical planning to address unique challenges and ensure positive postoperative outcomes. Two separate anesthesia teams delivered GA simultaneously to each twin. To minimize anesthetic exposure, two pediatric dental teams completed dental care concurrently. Extensive plaque accumulation and unusual "mirror-image" caries distribution were attributed to frequency and postural pooling during feeding. The rehabilitation objective was to provide definitive dental management, minimizing future need for dental retreatment under GA. Two-month follow-up revealed intact dental restorations, good oral hygiene, and weight gain. For these unique twins however, the challenge of long-term oral health maintenance remains.
authors.affiliation: BC Children's Hospital, Canada; Graduate Program in Pediatric Dentistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. campbkar@dentistry.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003427:Cross Circulation; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000601:surgery*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery; D014428:Twins, Conjoined / Q000503:physiopathology