Three paediatric patients with oral self-mutilation--a report.
Oral self-mutilation, although thought to be uncommon, is quite widespread. Practitioners should carefully consider self-mutilation as part of their differential diagnosis in unexplainable oral conditions. We report three paediatric cases of oral self-mutilation.


CONCLUSIONS
Deliberate self-mutilation, although practised in certain parts of the world, is relatively rare in western cultures. Although uncommon, Altom and DiAngelis believe oral self-mutilation is probably more widespread than is recognized. Self-mutilation of the oral soft and hard tissues can include gingival, mucosal and periodontal damage, glossectomy, auto extraction and the insertion of foreign bodies.
The Ipswich Hospital.
Parmjit
P
Singh
Robert
R
Emanuel
Jennifer
J
Parry
Prabhleen Singh
PS
Anand
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis; D005881:Gingiva / Q000293:injuries; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009259:Nail Biting / Q000009:adverse effects; D009262:Nails; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014081:Tooth Extraction