Biomaterial Database

Self-inflicted gingival injury due to habitual fingernail biting. 2000

C B Krejci

Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Self-inflicted gingival injuries have been known to occur in children and adolescents secondary to a number of causes, including accidental trauma; fingernail biting; digit sucking; or sucking on objects such as pens, pencils, thread, or toothpicks. Of these causes, the one documented as the most common cause is habitual fingernail biting or onychophagia. This case report describes the gingival injury caused by habitual fingernail biting and the findings noted at the time of periodontal surgery. The potential ramifications of fingernail biting are discussed, and the steps necessary to ensure and preserve the dental health of the patient are identified.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009259	Nail Biting	Common form of habitual body manipulation which is an expression of tension.	Onychophagia,Biting, Nail
D009262	Nails	The thin, horny plates that cover the dorsal surfaces of the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes of primates.	Fingernails,Toenails,Fingernail,Nail,Toenail
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D005547	Foreign Bodies	Inanimate objects that become enclosed in the body.	Foreign Objects,Gossypiboma,Retained Surgical Instruments,Retained Surgical Items,Retained Surgical Needle,Retained Surgical Sponge,Retained Surgical Tools,Textiloma,Bodies, Foreign,Body, Foreign,Foreign Body,Foreign Object,Gossypibomas,Object, Foreign,Objects, Foreign,Retained Surgical Instrument,Retained Surgical Item,Retained Surgical Needles,Retained Surgical Sponges,Retained Surgical Tool,Surgical Instrument, Retained,Surgical Instruments, Retained,Surgical Item, Retained,Surgical Items, Retained,Surgical Needle, Retained,Surgical Needles, Retained,Surgical Sponge, Retained,Surgical Sponges, Retained,Surgical Tool, Retained,Surgical Tools, Retained,Textilomas
D005881	Gingiva	Oral tissue surrounding and attached to TEETH.	Gums,Interdental Papilla,Papilla, Interdental,Gum
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013357	Subgingival Curettage	Removal of degenerated and necrotic epithelium and underlying connective tissue of a periodontal pocket in an effort to convert a chronic ulcerated wound to an acute surgical wound, thereby insuring wound healing and attachment or epithelial adhesion, and shrinkage of the marginal gingiva. The term is sometimes used in connection with smoothing of a root surface or ROOT PLANING. (Jablonski; Illustrated Dictionary of Dentistry, 1982)	Gingival Curettage,Periodontal Epithelial Debridement,Curettage, Gingival,Curettage, Subgingival,Curettages, Gingival,Curettages, Subgingival,Debridement, Periodontal Epithelial,Debridements, Periodontal Epithelial,Epithelial Debridement, Periodontal,Epithelial Debridements, Periodontal,Gingival Curettages,Periodontal Epithelial Debridements,Subgingival Curettages
D013524	Surgical Flaps	Tongues of skin and subcutaneous tissue, sometimes including muscle, cut away from the underlying parts but often still attached at one end. They retain their own microvasculature which is also transferred to the new site. They are often used in plastic surgery for filling a defect in a neighboring region.	Island Flap,Island Flaps,Flap, Surgical,Flaps, Surgical,Pedicled Flap,Surgical Flap,Flap, Island,Flap, Pedicled,Flaps, Island,Flaps, Pedicled,Pedicled Flaps