Manuel M. Album

A team approach to drool control in cerebral palsy

An analysis of the surgical reduction of drooling in children with cerebral palsy is presented, describing a team approach to the problem. All children were housed in a residential facility. The criteria for selection and evaluation of these patients by speech therapists, dentists, plastic surgeons, pediatricians, and teachers are also presented. Results show this approach to be successful: there were minimal postoperative complications; the amount of drool was significantly reduced; and the overall performance of the patients was improved.

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica polydysplastica. A case of anesthetic management in oral surgery.

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica is a rare disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes. Manifest at birth, it is characterized by poor dentition, esophageal strictures, syndactyly, and severe chronic anemia. Our 12-year-old patient required extensive dental treatment which necessitated overcoming problems of anesthesia as well as developing a technique of management that provided maximum safety and a minimum of discomfort. Transmission electron microscopy of sections of the gingiva revealed possible degenerative collagen fibers and an interrupted basement membrance. Anchoring fibrils normally found in the connective tissue beneath the epithelium were absent.

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia: Report of a case

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia, often referred to as Pyles disease, is a hereditary disease involving the expansion of the metaphyses of the long bones, giving the appearance of an Erlenmeyer flask. There is diffuse hyperostosis of the entire cranial vault, along with absence or decreased development of the paranasal sinuses. In the case presented here the mouth demonstrated an abnormality wide maxilla with a slight palatal vault. Genetically, this appeared to be a dmoninant form of dysplasia.

Incontinentia pigmenti: Block-Sultzburger, Block-Seimens disease

Summary A case of incontinentia pigmenti in a 3-week-old girl, with a 3-month follow-up examination, has been presented. The child showed the classic dermatologic, ocular, and dental involvement. The question of etiology is still under investigation, and evidence is developing that may discount genetics as the causative factor. A plasma protein deficiency, although not generally reported in the literature, may be the etiologic factor. Dental pathosis included oligodontia with atypical aberrations of the crown. The eruption sequence of the teeth will remain a question until the patient is older. The mentality of the child will also remain an unknown factor during her early development. Close observation through tests and radiographic examination will be an important consideration in this childs development.