From Volume 49, Issue 3, March 2022 | Pages 247-250
Self-mutilation behaviours in individuals with normal intelligence are mostly habitual, but can sometimes be associated with emotional disturbances. A 6-year-old boy presented with pain in the gums of his upper back teeth. He was diagnosed with habitual gingival stripping secondary to irritation from chronic food impaction. Timely diagnosis and prompt intervention resulted in a favourable treatment outcome.
Children with gingival conditions rarely report to a paediatric dentist. However, when they do report, it may be perplexing to diagnose and manage due to similarities of presentation with varied causes. Figure 1 shows the new classification scheme for periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions proposed in 2017.1,2,3,4
Non-dental biofilm-induced traumatic gingival lesions (formerly termed as gingivitis artefacta) are further classified as gingivitis artefacta minor or major. Gingivitis artefacta minor is more common and includes superficial gingival lesions. It results from an evident physical or chemical local irritation, such as pricking the gingiva using fingernails, toothpicks, or any sharp objects5 and can be managed by the elimination of the irritating stimuli. Since most patients are engaged in the habit subconsciously, creating awareness in the patient is an important aspect of management.
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