Dental concerns and management of children with Epilepsy: An overview

Modem medicine defines epilepsy as a chronic neurologic disorder characterized by frequently recurrent seizures. A seizure is a sign of a disease, which manifests as an episodic disturbance of movement, feeling, or consciousness caused by sudden synchronous, inappropriate and excessive electrical discharges that interfere with the normal functioning of the brain site of location of seizures the disease occurs independent of race, age and gender ]. However, epilepsy has been occur more frequently in men than in women. Oral manifestations are soft tissue lacerations of tongue or buccal mucosa, avulsion, luxation and fractures of teeth and jaws are more common and also subluxation of the temporo mandibular joint.due to drug therapy gingival hyperplasia, recurrent apthous like ulceration and anomalous dental development like small teeth and delayed eruption.reduce stress on the patients with psychobehavioral preparations, sedation etc. Diazepam is the drug of choice because it has anticonvilsant properties.The use of conscious sedation and general anesthesia is not contraindicated in patients’ epilepsy. In some situations nitrous oxide or intravenous sedation may be necessary to safely and effectively provide dental care. Avoid IV local anesthetics. Appointments should be short, importance of tooth brushing procedures and regular review, if appliances are indicated for tooth movement and tooth replacement, fixed type are preferred. This article discuss about etiology, clinical features and dental management of children with epilepsy.