Functional oral self-injurious behavior in a pediatric patient

Abstract

Self injurious behavior (SIB) is a serious health problem. Oral SIB is not uncommon and typically expressed by persistent biting of the oral mucosa and perioral tissues. This case report describes an 11-year-old Japanese boy with functional oral SIB in non-syndromic patients. Some major change had recently occurred in the family routine. Oral lesions included factitial ulcer of the buccal mucosa and tongue. We describe the successful use of a removable dental appliance under the careful observation of oral SIB through intense collaboration between parents, psychologists, and dental staff in addition to psychological therapy.