Nail-biting and foreign body embedment: a review and case report.

Reports of foreign bodies in the oronasal complex have included bullets, impression materials, teeth, fish bones, needles, plastics, pistachio nuts, earrings, and the traumatic implantation of a toothbrush." These foreign bodies have been found by palpation, direct visualization, or as incidental findings on radiographs. A thorough history may establish an etiology and time frame in which the foreign body was embedded in soft tissue. A chronic oral habit can introduce foreign bodies into the oral cavity. Most pernicious oral habits such as dummy or digit sucking, lip and cheek biting, and tongue thrusting are associated with oral complications, but do not involve foreign bodies. This unique case history describes the introduction of a foreign body in association with habitual fingernail biting.