초록
자폐증 및 정신 지체가 있는 환자의 입술 깨물기 증상을 mouthguard를 사용하여 성공적으로 조절하였다. 치과적으로 접근 가능한 구강 내 자해 증상의 치료는 가철성 혹은 고정성 장치를 이용하거나 관련 치아의 발치, 악교정 수술 등을 시도할 수 있으며 각 환자에 맞는 적절한 치료법을 선택하는 것이 중요하다. 자해 행동이 일시적으로 개선되었다 해도 재발의 가능성이 높으므로 장기적인 관리와 소아정신과와의 협진 하에 정신심리학적 환경 개선 및 약물 치료가 병행되어야 할 것이다.
Self-injurious behavior (SIB) has been defined as the deliberate destruction or alteration of body tissue without conscious suicidal intent. It occurs in conjunction with a variety of psychiatric disorders as well as various developmental disabilities and some syndromes. The behavior is destructive and causes concern and distress to all involved in the care and treatment of the affected individual. A 13-year-old girl with autism, mental retardation and delayed development was reffered from her pediatrician because of severe and painful lower lip biting. An intraoral examination revealed a diffuse swelling of lower lip. It was covered with necrotic slough and the ulcer and scarring of the lower lip was observed. We chose to use an oral removable prosthesis for Conservative treatment. It was decided to use a soft silicone mouthguard in the maxillary arch. Initially, she could not tolerate the appliance inside her mouth but soon adapted with the appliance. After one month, she lost the mouth guard and started lip biting. So we made mouth guard again. There are no standard methods for preventing self-injurious behavior in a patient who is developmentally disabled. Appropriate preventive methods must be developed for each individual patient based on close observation and clinical findings. Behavior modification techniques, pharmacological treatment, extraction of teeth, orthognathic surgery and intra/extra oral appliances can be performed for adjust self-injurious behavior. A suitable oral guard could be tried initially before employing more invasive approaches.