title: Onychophagia and postorthodontic isolated gingival recession: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: This clinical report describes the diagnosis and the management of isolated-type recession defects of complex etiology in 2 healthy postorthodontic patients. The lesions were confined to 1 mandibular incisor and were associated with an abnormal buccolingual inclination of the affected tooth despite a lingual retainer made with a round stainless steel twisted wire. After careful questioning, it was determined that the recession defects were indirect effects of habitual onychophagia. The concomitant fingernail-biting habit and the lingual bonded retainer led to the indirect development of bone dehiscence and, consequently, gingival recession.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Bologna, Italy. giulio.alessandri@unibo.it
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alessandri Bonetti
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Incerti Parenti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zucchelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009259:Nail Biting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D055815:Young Adult