Mutilations of Teeth

[tirath]

Tooth mutilation practices have been recorded for the inhabitants of the non-tropical environments, but most of these customs are observed among the people living in the tropical regions of the world.

These practices include:

Non therapeutic tooth extraction(evulsion)
Breaking of tooth crowns
Filling of tooth crowns by filling and chipping,dental inlay work
Lacquering and staining of teeth
Miscellaneous practices

        

[tirath]

Reasons for teeth mutilation
Basic themes such as initiation identification and aesthetics underline many of the mutilation customs encountered throughout the tropics.

Beliefs and associations ascribed to the practice of tooth evulsions are

Tribal identification
Initiation rite
Sign of manhood or bravery
Differentiation of sexes
Sign of marriageable age in females
Sign of ceremonial rebirth
To ensure a life after death
Aesthetics and fashion
Therapeutic purposes
Sign of mourning
Sign of subjugation
Form of punishment
Cultural mimicry
To enable an individual to spit properly
Local superstition associated with phenomena such as rain

        

[sushantpatel_doc]

The practice of extraction of ebinyo or false teeth is based on the belief that the rubbing of herbs on the gum (in the region of the canine) or the removal of the primary and/or permanent canine tooth buds will lead to the relief of childhood fevers and diarrhoea. The reported prevalence of this practice in Uganda and neighbouring countries is varied.

Although carried out early in the life of the child, this practice can have an impact on the occlusal status in the permanent dentition years later.

        

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