<unk>  is caused by implantation of<unk>  into the tissues. It may occur in several ways: * During placement of an<unk>  filling, e.g. if abrasions on the mucosa are present which allow entry of<unk>  dust * Shortly after placement of an<unk>  filling, e.g.<unk>  particles can contaminate dental floss and lead to linear<unk> s in between the teeth, especially if flossing is carried out immediately after placement of an<unk>  filling with a mesial or distal aspect * Polishing of an<unk>  filling * The pressure from high speed turbine dental drills can be enough to force<unk>  particles into soft tissue, as may occur when an old<unk>  filling is being removed * When a tooth with an<unk>  filling is extracted, e.g. broken bits of<unk>  filling falling into an extraction socket unnoticed * When an<unk>  filling is placed in the same appointment as a tooth extracted, as may occur in "quadrant dentistry" * Apicectomies are common causes of<unk> , since the<unk>  is being placed inside the alveolus and the soft tissues are replaced on top Over time, the<unk>  particles embedded in the soft tissues corrode. Macrophages take up the exogenous particles, and the silver in<unk>  leads to staining of collagen fibers. A similar appearance can be caused by implantation of graphite (e.g. from pencil leads), and is sometimes termed a graphite<unk> , although this is less common than<unk> ing with<unk> .
Amalgam tattoo
Soot tattoo
Debulking
Circumcision
Cigarette burns
Tincture of benzoin
Scorpion sting
Indoor tanning