A Possible Link between Non-Nutritive Sucking Habits and Herniated Dental Follicles: A Case Series

Authors: Katebzadeh S, Flaitz C and Puranik CP*

DOI: 10.23880/oajds-16000410

Volume 9, Issue 4

Abstract

Background: Herniated dental follicle (HeDF) is an uncommon and poorly recognized gingival lesion, often misdiagnosed due to its subtle clinical presentation. Case Presentation: This case series presents two unique cases of HeDF in pediatric patients with possible contributing factors associated with a sustained oral habit. The first case involves a five-year-old male with an asymptomatic pink, raised, sessile, finger-like projection on the alveolar mucosa of the right maxillary molar region. The second case had similar clinical findings in a seven-year-old female overlying unerupted maxillary left lateral incisor. Both cases had a positive finding of nonnutritive sucking habit and were treated conservatively with restoration of normal anatomy after tooth eruption within six to eight months. Clinical Implication: This case series highlight the importance of recognizing HeDF for conservative management to prevent unnecessary surgical intervention and to explore whether a non-nutritive sucking habit could be an etiologic factor for HeDF.

Keywords: Herniated Dental Follicle; Non-Nutritive Sucking Habit; Pediatric Soft Tissue Lesions; Tooth Eruption

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