Dr. M.C. Srivastava
Abstract
The pica is a symptom, not a disease, which is manifested by persistent and compulsive eating of non-nutritious
substances like soil, clay, chalk, stone, brick, paper, soap and fecal matter or edible ice (pagophagia), starch
(amilofagia). The most common forms of pica are geophagia or mud/soil eating and then pagophagia or consumption of
ice. Similar to other symptoms in medicine, such as fever and anemia, pica is a multi-symptom, being iron deficiency and
zinc deficiency. The pica despite being a symptom, according to the type of pica and intensity of which can cause
morbidity and mortality. In some types of pica, may cause obstruction and damage the digestive tract. Its etiology is
unknown but in case of children most likely due to ignorance on the part of the health, or with some mental illness, or
lack of time with parents. Prolong and undiagnosed pica may have adverse effect on oral health as well. The cause of
tooth wear should be considered when patients present with an unusual pattern of tooth surface loss. The purpose of this
review and case report is to draw attention to this clinical sign, so that this potential problem can be identified at an early
stage. This article presents a case of a patient who had tooth surface loss and damaged restorations as a result of pica.