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Oral palatine ulcers of a traumatic nature in infants: Bednar's aphthae
C Pedra1, C M Terra, B Ejzenberg
1Department of Pediatrics, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
Traumatic palatine ulcers in infants, often misdiagnosed, can result from improper feeding devices like non-orthodontic nipples and pacifiers. Correcting sucking habits and feeding techniques effectively healed these ulcers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Oral Pathology
Background:
- Large palatine ulcers in infants can be challenging to diagnose.
- Traumatic etiology is often overlooked initially.
Abstract:
The authors present five cases of large palatine ulcers of a traumatic nature in infants, with duration from two weeks to four months. Causal diagnosis was difficult at first until the possibility of trauma caused by non-orthodontic nipples (all cases) and dummies (4)--Bednar's aphthae--was considered. Other problems related to sucking were observed: a horizontal position for nursing (all) and very narrow nipple hole (4). The infants' mothers were advised to enlarge the orifice in the nipple and correct the position for nursing (3 cases) and, in addition, to suspend use of a dummy (1 case) and discontinue use of a bottle and dummy (1 case). All of the ulcers healed within a period from one to four weeks. Small scars remained in two of the children.