Images (3)

Morsicatio buccarumK13.6

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

All authors of this article

Last updated on: 21.07.2021

Dieser Artikel auf Deutsch

Synonym(s)

Bruxism; Chronic cheek biting; Chronic cheek chewing; Mucous membrane callosity

Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please login to access all articles, images, and functions.

Our content is available exclusively to medical professionals. If you have already registered, please login. If you haven't, you can register for free (medical professionals only).


Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please complete your registration to access all articles and images.

To gain access, you must complete your registration. You either haven't confirmed your e-mail address or we still need proof that you are a member of the medical profession.

Finish your registration now

DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Harmless calluses of the mucous membranes, especially on the cheeks, which are caused by habitual cheek chewing (so-called habits) or pleasurable retraction of the mucous membranes of the cheeks, processes which may develop in children and adults into a habitual compulsive reaction to stress or other discomfort.

Combination with cheilophagy (lip chewing) is possible, see also artifacts.

EtiopathogenesisThis section has been translated automatically.

Conscious or unconscious sucking and chewing of the cheek mucosa.

Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.

Strip-shaped chewed, whitish or spotty, reddened, blurred plaques in the area of the buccal mucosa with ragged lesions in the area of the tooth closing ridge. In addition, focal bleeding and erosions also occur. The anterior buccal interdental line is particularly affected, as the retro-angular area can be sucked between the teeth particularly easily.

HistologyThis section has been translated automatically.

Irregular plump acanthosis with focal, racy ortho or parakeratotic cornification. No cell types. No inflammatory cells in the lamina propria.

TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.

Avoidance of chronic, artifactual, mechanical irritation. The patient must be informed about the mechanism of the skin changes, in severe cases psychotherapeutic assistance is recommended.

If the diagnosis is unclear, biopsy and histological control are indicated (to exclude precancerous leukoplakia).

Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.

Often associated with nightly teeth grinding (bruxism), recognizable by the heavily ground down molars.

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Cam K et al (2012) Oral frictional hyperkeratosis (morsicatio buccarum): an entity to be considered in the differential diagnosis of white oral mucosal lesions. Skinmed 10:114-115
  2. Glass LF et al (1991) Morsicatio buccarum et labiorum (excessive cheek and lip biting). At J Dermatopathol 13: 271-274
  3. Silva DR et al (2003) Self-injurious behavior as a challenge for the dental practice: a case report. Pediatrist Dent 25: 62-66
  4. Siragusa M et al (2013) Self-inflicted lesions of the mouth and lips in mentally retarded young subjects. Eur J Dermatol 23: 843-848

Authors

Last updated on: 21.07.2021

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer