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.

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.