Resumo

DAINEZI, Vanessa Benetello et al. Aesthetic and functional rehabilitation in infancy: a case report. Rev. Assoc. Paul. Cir. Dent. [online]. 2015, vol.69, n.4, pp. 387-393. ISSN 0004-5276.

Dental caries is a disease related with sucrose rich diet and poor oral hygiene. During childhood, if caries disease is misdiagnosed, it can lead to early loss of primary teeth. This study aimed to report the aesthetic and functional rehabilitation treatment in a female child aged 4 years and 5 months, with severe early childhood caries. In the case history, as well as complaints of toothache, the child showed apathy and embarrassment to talk and smile. In initial clinical examination, it was noticed lack of teeth 55, 54, 85, 84 and 75; active caries lesion on teeth 71, 73, 81, 82 and 83; the dental elements 51, 52, 53, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 74 presented with extensive coronary destruction bellow the gingival margins, and the teeth 51 and 52 with the presence of fistula. After radiographic evaluation, the treatment proposed was comprised by destroyed teeth extraction, resin composite restoration of all cavities and subsequent placement of upper denture and lower partial denture. Oral hygiene and non-cariogenic diet orientations were accomplished since the initial treatment to encourage the child and her family to practice healthy habits. After accomplished the treatment, it could be concluded that aesthetic and functional rehabilitation recovered the patient aesthetic, phonetic and mastication functions. This fact contributed to improve the child's self-esteem and it promoted satisfaction of her family. The dentist educational work and the stimulus of child and her caregivers were essential for treatment successful and for patient oral health maintenance.

Palavras-chave : pediatric dentistry; dental caries; mouth rehabilitation.