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

摘要

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.