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Published on: July 6, 2017
[Riga-Fede disease: traumatic ulceration of the tongue in an infant]
N Graillon1, N Dumont, L Guyot
1Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et plastique de la face-stomatologie, hôpital Nord, chemin des Bourrelly, Marseille, France. nicolas.graillon@ap-hm.fr
Introduction:
Riga-Fede disease is rare. It is an oral mucosal ulceration due to repetitive dental trauma. We report the case of an infant for whom a quick diagnosis prevented many complications.
Observation:
A 45-day-old infant was brought to our consultation for pain during baby-bottle intake, preventing feeding. Oral examination revealed ulceration on the ventral surface of the tongue, associated next to a mandibular incisor present at birth. Pain stopped immediately after dental extraction of the supernumerary tooth. The infant could be fed again without any problem. The ulceration healed in less than three months.
Discussion:
The diagnosis of Riga-Fede disease is strictly clinical. The early diagnosis in our case allowed for a quick management and normal feeding before there was any somatic consequence. Dental trauma is the most frequent cause of Riga-Fede disease. Treatment is conservative (polishing, resin) except in case of supernumerary teeth or excessive mobility. In these cases, extraction is indicated. The pathological diagnosis is required only when there is no healing after appropriate management fails, to look looking for another diagnosis.
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