Riga-Fede disease: A challenging disease for neonates and parents: An up-to-date view of the literature

Background/Aim: Riga-Fede disease (RFD) is a severe complication of natal and neonatal teeth. It is a benign traumatic granuloma that causes several problems to both the nursing mother and the infant. However, the disease may appear to older children as well. The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of Riga-Fede disease, as well as the modern approaches regarding its management. Material and Methods: A thorough investigation of modern literature was conducted, using the scientific databases PubMed and Google Scholar. Published articles of case reports, literature and systematic reviews were collected based on the criterion of publication date. An article was considered eligible for our study when published within the last decade (2015-2024). Results: RFD is usually developed on the ventral surface of the infants' tongue due to repetitive trauma from natal or neonatal teeth. The histopathological evaluation of RFD's lesions reveals severe eosinophilic inflammatory infiltration with necrotic layers. However, its clinical appearance may be mistaken and lead to a false diagnosis, given its similarity with oral neoplasms, congenital diseases, infection lesions and other pathological conditions of the oral cavity. RFD usually causes pain during breastfeeding. So, there is a risk of insufficient child nutrition, along with dehydration and aspiration danger, as natal and neonatal teeth are usually unsteady. RFD's management depends on the characteristics of each clinical case and includes monitoring, conservative approach or extraction in cases of high health risks for the child. Conclusions: RFD can be considered a challenging condition that should be immediately dealt with, in order to avoid the previously stated problems. The severity of its clinical signs and symptoms reveal the need for enhanced education of modern dentists, pediatricians, obstetricians, midwives and any other health specialist responsible for women's and infants' oral health.