Lip buccal mucosa traumatic overgrowth due to sucking habit —A 10-year follow-up of a non-surgical approach: A combination of behavioural and myofunctional therapy

Abstract

Objective. Traumatic lesion of the lip buccal mucosa may develop due to a repetitive lip sucking habit, secondary to a dental space which opened in the dental in adult patients. The non surgical treatment approach is based on increasing of patient's awareness to the sucking habit along with the creation of a change in the oral and dental surrounding tissues. The following case included a failure to identify a traumatic habit of lower lip sucking, resulting in a buccal mucosa overgrowth. Combined conservative periodontal and orthodontic approach will be presented to address this clinical issue without any need for surgical intervention. Material and methods. 56 year old female patient presented with a complaint of unaesthetic appearance of the intraoral right buccal mucosa of the lower lip at rest position due to an intensive repetitive sucking habit of the right lower lip segment. We initiated a non surgical treatment approach including increasing the patient's awareness to the sucking habit, controlling the periodontal disease and orthodontic treatment to align and level the dental arch and to close the residual space. Result. The soft tissue overgrowth on the lip buccal mucosa almost completely subsided spontaneously as a result of conservative dental and behavioral management without the need for any oral surgery intervention. A 10 years follow-up revealed no repetitive oral mucosa overgrowth, no spaces reopening and no sucking habit redevelopment. Conclusion. Implementation of a morphological correction will assist the patient in breaking the habit and creating an environment that may effectively prevent the reoccurrence of the habit.