Comparative assessment of a phased debridement strategy amidst treatment for masticatory muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Relevance. Dental care for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) presents substantial challenges to dental practitioners. These children not only necessitate individualized care strategies but also face challenges in mouth opening due to masticatory muscle spasticity, which limits operational access during treatments. This study introduces a phased approach to debridement that is integrated with interventions aimed at alleviating hypertonia in the masticatory muscles through adaptive myogymnastics and the use of a pneumatic mouth expander.Materials and methods. A clinical and functional assessment of the orofacial region was conducted on 34 compliant CP patients aged 6-12 years, with the mean age being 9.6 ± 0.3 years. These assessments considered the extent of motor activity and movement limitations in daily activities. Follow-up evaluations were performed six months post-intervention.Results. The phased debridement plan demonstrated significant effectiveness, integrating diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with tailored visitation schedules based on the clinical conditions of the patients.Conclusion. Uniform diagnostic and therapeutic protocols are recommended to enhance dental health and restrain the prevalence of dental diseases among children with spastic cerebral palsy.