title: Masochistic habits in a child patient: A case report and its management.
abstract: This is a case report of diagnosis and management of masochistic habits, a special type of mechanical trauma to the gingival tissue known as self-inflicted lesions, also termed as gingivitis artefacta. Self-inflicted injuries can be premeditated, accidental, or can also result from an uncommon habit. The purpose of this article is to review clinical findings in a 6-year-old female patient who had a habit of left forearm sucking since birth and also presented with a nail-biting habit which caused a gingival stripping on the left buccal surface of maxillary first and second deciduous molars. A full-arm sleeve was advised to be used for habit breaking, selective grinding of cusps was done of lower left first and second deciduous molars, and also topical anesthetic gel was prescribed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science and Research, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: John Baby
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science and Research, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Vilvanathan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Praburajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science and Research, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ariudainambi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stalin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science and Research, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnan
keywords: Primary teeth; diagnosis; injuries due to masochistic habits; nail biting; self-inflicted gingival injuries