Overcoming the oral aspects of -self-mutilation: description of a method.
OBJECTIVE
Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a serious and chronic condition frequently seen in special needs populations, affecting 10% to 17% of individuals diagnosed with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. A 2.5-year-old infant with SIB, whose presenting symptoms were severe tongue and lip lacerations accompanied by much hemorrhage, is presented here to illustrate the problem and to show how this may be prevented.


METHODS
An appliance is described which effectively limits the damage caused by SIB and permits rapid healing of existing injuries.


RESULTS
The method provides for a stable, retentive, and comfortable device on the infant's undererupted and largely nonretentive crowns of the deciduous teeth as well as for all permanent teeth in children, adolescents, and adults.


CONCLUSIONS
The appliance has been successfully employed for the past 10 years in patients with SIB who have attended for treatment in the Special Needs Clinic in our Department.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. JosephSha@ekmd.huji.ac.il.
Joseph
J
Shapira
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Ravit
R
Birenboim
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Michael
M
Shoshani
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Arin
A
Abdel-Kader
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Ofra
O
Behar
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Moti
M
Moskovitz
Dental Laboratory, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Yaniv
Y
Ben-Attar
Department of Orthodontics, Hebrew University - Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Stella
S
Chaushu
Department of Orthodontics, Hebrew University - Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Adrian
A
Becker
D002675:Child, Preschool; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D006801:Humans; D007926:Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008046:Lip / Q000293:injuries*; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014059:Tongue / Q000293:injuries*
developmental disabilities; intellectual; oral mutilation