A clinical and epidemiologic study morsicatio buccarum/labiorum

abstract – A study of habitual self mutilation of the buccal and/or labial mucosa by biting was conducted on 8,589 persons attending the Royal Dental College, Copenhagen. Forty-two cases were found. The youngest patient was 5 years old and the oldest was 47. The condition occurred most frequently (1.77%) among persons aged 15–19 years. There was no difference in prevalence between males and females. Combined mutilation of cheek(s) and lip(s) was more frequent (62%) than isolated mutilation of the cheek(s) (24%) or isolated mutilation of the lip(s) (14%). Bilateral biting of the cheeks was more frequent than unilateral biting, and biting of the lower lip was more frequent than biting of the upper lip. Ninety-three per cent of the patients were aware of their habit, and most of them stated that they had been biting for years. Twenty patients were re-examined; in all but one patients the biting persisted but in 7 patients the location of the lesions had changed. In several cases a link could be traced to personal problems and mental stress. It was further noticed that many patients were students and white-collar workers, suggesting that "intellectual" work may predispose for the habit.