References

Anderson C, Morris A, Buatti JM Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for permanent alopecia of unwanted palatal hair. J Radiat Oncol. 2012; 1:411-414
Lumley C. Intraoral hair removal on skin graft using Nd:YAG laser. Br Dent J. 2007; 203:141-142
Gagnier JJ, Kienle G, Altman DG, Moher D, Sox H, Riley D The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. J Med Case Rep. 2013; 7
Pimlott N. Two cheers for case reports. Can Fam Physician. 2014; 60:966-967
Kidd MR, Saltman DC. Case reports at the vanguard of 21st century medicine. J Med Case Rep. 2012; 6
Yitschaky O, Yitschaky M, Zadik Y. Case report on trial: Do you, Doctor, swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?. J Med Case Rep. 2011; 5
Agha RA, Borrelli MR, Farwana R, Koshy K, Fowler AJ, Orgill DP The PROCESS 2018 statement : pdating Consensus Preferred Reporting Of CasE Series in Surgery (PROCESS) guidelines. Int J Surg. 2019; 60:279-282

Authors

Patrick Hesketh

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal Free London, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

Articles by Patrick Hesketh

Astrid Atherley

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal Free London, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

Articles by Astrid Atherley

Kashan Saber

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal Free London, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

Articles by Kashan Saber

Shadaab Mumtaz

BDS, MFDS, RCPS (Glasg), ORE

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal Free London, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

Articles by Shadaab Mumtaz

Mathangi Kumar

Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India

Articles by Mathangi Kumar

Shruthi Acharya

Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India

Articles by Shruthi Acharya

Ravindranath Vineetha

Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India

Articles by Ravindranath Vineetha

Article

As dental practitioners, we come across a number of unusual pathologies that can cause diagnostic dilemma and can increase anxiety to the clinician as well as the patient. One such rare presentation is oral paratrichosis. By definition, it denotes the presence of an abnormal hair in an abnormal location. Without doubt, the presence of hair in the oral cavity causes both physical as well as psychological morbidity. The patients may present with excessive gag reflex, food impaction, difficulties in maintaining oral hygiene, as well as embarrassment leading to reduced dental attendances and social anxiety.

Patients who undergo reconstruction of defects after resection of oral cancer with free or pedicled grafts from different areas of the body are frequently prone to these issues (Figure 1). The graft is usually from a hair-bearing area and may be used to reconstruct various areas of the oral cavity. Numerous treatment strategies have been designed to treat paratrichosis, such as laser epilation, mechanical epilation, electrolysis, and even radiotherapy in certain cases. Many surgeons have tried using de-epithelialized skin grafts to remove the skin appendages altogether, with variable results.1,2 Unfortunately, the overall management is sub-optimal.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Dental Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Up to 2 free articles per month
  • New content available