Transformative Dental Care in Pediatric Moebius Syndrome: Bridging Oral Health and Systemic Management During Prolonged Hospitalization

Moebius syndrome is a rare congenital disorder of unknown etiology. It is characterized by non-progressive paralysis of the facial and abducens cranial nerves due to atrophy of their nuclei, often accompanied by malformations in the upper and lower limbs. This report aims to highlight the critical role of hospital dentistry in managing a 6-year-old patient with Moebius syndrome. The patient was on mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy following a cardiorespiratory arrest at birth and has been hospitalized in a long-term care institution. Feeding and medication were administered via gastrostomy, and she was under a regimen of phenobarbital, phenytoin, and benzodiazepines for epilepsy control. Dental follow-up, initiated at birth, included monthly bed visits and medical team consultations. Key interventions included extraction of deciduous teeth to prevent bronchopulmonary aspiration, management of sialorrhea using scopolamine and botulinum toxin, selective wear of deciduous canines to mitigate self-mutilation, and monitoring drug-induced gingival hyperplasia. This case underscores the essential role of dental care in maintaining oral health, preventing complications such as respiratory infections, and enhancing the quality of life for syndromic patients under prolonged mechanical ventilation.