Preventing factitious gingival injury in an autistic patient

J Am Dent Assoc. 1996 Feb;127(2):244-7. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.1996.0176.

Abstract

A 34-year-old man with a history of autism developed a deep gingival cleft. During clinical evaluation, the patient repeatedly scraped the affected area with his fingernail. The lesion's clinical features were consistent with focal inflammatory hyperplasia, periodontal disease and factitious stomatitis. This article describes the case and discusses diagnostic and behavioral issues important in treating any patient whose mental age is impaired.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autistic Disorder / complications*
  • Behavior Therapy / methods
  • Dental Care for Disabled / methods*
  • Dental Care for Disabled / psychology
  • Factitious Disorders / complications
  • Factitious Disorders / etiology*
  • Factitious Disorders / prevention & control
  • Gingiva / injuries*
  • Gingival Recession / etiology
  • Gingival Recession / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Periodontitis / etiology
  • Periodontitis / prevention & control
  • Periodontitis / psychology
  • Recurrence
  • Reward
  • Stomatitis / etiology*
  • Stomatitis / prevention & control
  • Stomatitis / psychology