Dental maturation in children with shunt-treated hydrocephalus

Dental Care for a Child with Congenital Hydrocephalus: A Case Report with 12-Month Follow-Up

Hydrocephalus affects the central nervous system as a result of progressive ventricular dilatation from the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's lateral ventricles. This paper reports on the oral characteristics of a child with congenital hydrocephalus, discusses her complex dental care needs, and presents dental management of this case. Despite the complex and challenging dental needs, this child received dental treatment in a chairside approach without general anesthesia. A thorough knowledge of the patient's medical condition, together with expert clinical skills, was indispensable for managing the child and improving the quality and length of her life.

Full-mouth Rehabilitation of a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt-treated Hydrocephalic Pediatric Patient: A Case Report

Hydrocephalus is characterized by accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the lateral ventricles of the brain, which results in progressive ventricular dilatation and an increased intracranial pressure. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the most common treatment for hydrocephalus. Delayed development, behavioral disturbance, chronological changes in the eruption of their teeth, changes in the occlusion, greater accumulation of plaque, and increased caries prevalence are some of the clinical manifestations in these patients, which are encountered by a pediatric dentist. Behavioral disturbance in these patients makes sedation or general anesthesia the most feasible behavior management technique. During dental treatment of shunt-treated patients, care should be taken to avoid applying excessive force on the catheter. A referral to a neurosurgeon is recommended for patients with shunts undergoing invasive dental procedures for assessment of the need for prophylactic antibiotics. The present case report discusses full-mouth rehabilitation of a pediatric patient under general anesthesia who presented with severe early childhood caries and a medical history of ventriculoperitoneal shunt-treated hydrocephalus.

How to cite this article: Poonia A, Chengappa MMD, Mitra R, et al. Full-mouth Rehabilitation of a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt-treated Hydrocephalic Pediatric Patient: A Case Report. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(1):103–106.

Characteristics of individuals with hydrocephalus and their dental care needs

Hydrocephalus is considered a congenital disease affecting the central nervous system, and is characterized by accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the lateral ventricles of the brain causing progressive ventricular dilatation. This review paper reports on the oral characteristics of persons with hydrocephalus and discusses their dental care needs. It has been reported that patients with hydrocephalus can present chronological changes in the eruption of their teeth, changes in the occlusion, greater accumulation of plaque, and have a higher caries prevalence. Regular dental visits are needed to control caries as well as to educate the caretakers about oral hygiene for children with hydrocephalus. In addition, the dental practitioner should be careful not to put pressure on the ventricular-peritoneal drainage tube during dental treatment. Special devices are available to support the patient's head if they have macrocephally.