title: Role of a dentist in comprehensive management of a comatose patient with post traumatic head injury and neuropathological chewing.
abstract: Injury of the head and neck region can result in substantial morbidity. Comprehensive management of such patients requires team work of several specialties, including dentists. A young female patient with extensive loss of cranium and associated pathological chewing was referred to the dental department. The lost cranium was replaced by a custom-made, hand-fabricated cranioplast. Trauma due to pathological mastication was reduced by usage of a custom-made mouthguard. Favorable results were seen in the appearance of the patient and after insertion of the mouthguard as evidenced in good healing response. The intricate role of a dental specialist in the team to manage a patient with post traumatic head injury has been highlighted. The take away message is to make the surgical fraternity aware of the scope of dentistry in the comprehensive management of patients requiring special care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sunanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Dheeraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koli
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daksh
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verma
keywords: Comatose; cranioplast; head injury; lip guard