Ligature technique as a treatment for mucocele in an infant - Case report

Abstract

Mucocele is a common benign pathology of the minor salivary glands, caused by trauma that leads to rupture or obstruction of the glandular ducts. It is commonly found in children due to oral habits, such as biting and sucking on lips and cheeks. The main treatment consists of complete surgical excision of the lesion and associated gland, which can be traumatic and invasive for children. Therefore, conversational and short-term techniques have been developed to reduce patient discomfort. The objective of this study was to present a simplified technique for treating mucocele in infants, called Ligature, in order to reflect on the choice of the operative technique that allows for better trans and postoperative conditions. A four month-old male infant was referred to the Department of Oral Medicine and Children's Dentistry at the State University of Londrina for diagnosis and treatment of a nodular lesion on the inner mucosa of the lower lip. According to the clinical characteristics, a diagnosis of mucocele was reached, with the Ligature Technique as the treatment of choice. Local disinfection was performed followed by topical anesthesia and the base of the lesion was tied with suture. Monitoring until complete remission was carried out via telemonitoring between appointments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ligature Technique is an excellent treatment option for pedicled mucoceles considering the importance of appropriate selection of dental techniques, in order to achieve the treatment goal in a less traumatic manner, and meet the specific needs of each patient.