Management of Dentoalveolar Fracture in a Patient with Wilson’s Disease: A Case Report

Abstract

Dental trauma is most common in children as they are involved in a lot of physical activities as they grow up. Most commonly dental trauma is seen in front teeth in the upper jaw. Children with disabilities have to be given more attention as they are more prone to dental injuries and infections. Several genetic disorders affect an individual mentally and physically and make them disabled. One such autosomal recessive inherited disorder is Wilson's disease. Wilson's disease is characterised by excessive deposition of copper in the liver, brain and other tissues. It is usually diagnosed between ages 5 to 35 years of age. Dentoalveolar fracture is seen in 17% of children. Dentoalveolar fracture involves the alveolar bone and may extend beyond the alveolus. This article presents a case report of a 10-year-old male, who presented with a dentoalveolar fracture of the lower jaw and was also diagnosed with Wilson's disease. In this case, dentoalveolar fracture of the lower mandibular anterior region is managed by ribbond splinting as it is free of any metal/copper contents and is most compatible in this case. As paediatric dentists, it is essential to have the skills and techniques to manage patients with special abilities and make the right choice of treatment and materials which adds benefits to patients' well-being. Patients of such conditions are of utmost importance as they are prone to trauma and infections.

Keywords

• dental trauma
• mandibular fracture
• ribbon splint