Oral rehabilitation in a patient with special needs

Cerebral palsy is a disorder caused by central nervous system injuries that can occur during the prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal periods. It is characterized by multiple abnormalities, including impairment of speech, body and motor coordination, balance, intelligence, mastication, and swallowing. Due to abnormal movements of the facial muscles, compounded by impairment of the self-cleansing mechanism of the oral cavity, patients with this condition can develop oral diseases such as caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss. The aim of this paper is to report a case of a patient with cerebral palsy who presented with absence of the maxillary central incisors, removable prosthesis wear, and oral candidiasis. Impressions of the upper and lower arches and periapical radiographs were obtained. The lateral incisors were found to exhibit root resorption, which contraindicated their use as abutment teeth for fixed prosthodontics. In view of the patient's socioeconomic status and cerebral palsy-related limitations, a resin-bonded fixed partial denture was fabricated and nystatin solution was used for treatment of oral candidiasis. The patient had an esthetically and functionally adequate outcome.