Pediatric Dentistry · patient case question
What is your conduct?
Patient case: Child with lower lip swelling the day after a stainless steel crown
Patient: Child, 7 years old
Chief complaint: Brought by his father with swelling of the lower lip.
Background: A stainless steel crown was placed the day before under local anaesthesia.
Current findings: Swelling of the lower lip at the level of the mandibular occlusal plane.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Reassure the father and ask him to monitor it at home
- A. There is no infection to treat; antibiotics are unnecessary.
- B. Topical corticosteroid is not indicated for a traumatic ulcer and may impair healing.
- C. This is a benign, self-limiting injury requiring no urgent referral.
- D. CORRECT. A traumatic lip lesion of this kind heals spontaneously within one to two weeks. Management is reassurance, a soft diet, gentle cleaning, analgesia if needed and observation, with instructions to return if it worsens or shows signs of secondary infection.
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