High-power diode laser on management of drug-induced gingival overgrowth: Report of two cases and long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is attributed mainly to the prolonged use of calcium channel blocking agents, anticonvulsants, and anti-calcineurin inhibitors . The management of DIGO depends on the severity of the disease and includes surgical intervention and plaque control. Compared to conventional surgical treatment, the recent literature data have shown that gingivectomy using a high-power laser (HPL) is a short and easy procedure, which results in minimal postoperative discomfort and greater patient accep- tance. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The purpose of this study was to report two cases of recurrent DIGO treated surgically using HPL (λ 808nm, 1.5W). RESULTS: Minimal bleeding and discomfort were observed during surgery, and patients reported no pain or bleeding after the procedure. After 1 year of follow-up, patients presented a minimal increase of gingival volume, indicating that laser technology can improve the efficiency and prognosis of DIGO. CONCLUSIONS: The HPL was able to preventing hemorrhage and improving the patient's collaboration with the treatment and quality of life.

Management of periodontal disease in patients using calcium channel blockers - gingival overgrowth, prescribed medications, treatment responses and added treatment costs.

OBJECTIVES: Gingival overgrowth (GO) is an adverse drug reaction in patients using calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Little is known about the effects of CCBs on the management of periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to assess how the use of CCBs affects the long-term supportive treatment and outcomes in patients undergoing periodontal therapy. METHODS: All patients using CCBs during the initial treatment and/or the supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) were selected from a periodontal practice. Patients were scored using a Gingival Overgrowth Index (GOI). The effects of CCB types and dosages were assessed in terms of the frequency and the severity of GO, treatment responses, substitutions and extra treatment costs. Mean values, Standard Deviation (SD) and range were calculated. The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) for GO between patients with good and poor oral hygiene, differences between before and after terminating or replacing the CCBs, possible differences between drug dosages (Dihydropyridine 5 mg and 10 mg) and differences between three drug combinations (CCB and inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system (IRAS), CCB and non-IRAS, CCB and statins). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four patients (58 females, 66 males, 4.6% of the patient population) were using CCBs. 103 patients were assessed. Average age was 66.53 years (SD. 9.89, range 42-88) and the observation time was 11.30 years (SD 8.06, range 1-27). Eighty-nine patients had GO, 75 of these required treatment for GO. Terminating or replacing with alternatives to CCBs resulted in significant decreases in GO (p = 0.00016, p = 0.00068) respectively. No differences were found between good and poor oral hygiene (p = 0.074), drug dosages or the various drug combinations. Surgical treatment was more effective than non-surgical treatment in controlling the GO. Long-term tooth loss was 0.11 teeth per patient per year. Forty-two patients needed re-treatments for GO, resulting in an extra life cost per patient of €13471 (discounted €4177). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients (86.4%) using CCBs experienced GO. 47.2% of these experienced recurrence(s) of GO during the SPT and needed re-treatments with resulting added costs. The long-term tooth loss was considerably higher for patients using CCBs than for other patients groups from the same practice setting.

Management of Gingival Overgrowth in a Cardiac Transplant Patient Using Laser-Assisted Gingivectomy/Gingivoplasty.

Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is an oral clinical manifestation associated with certain medications such as immunosuppressants that are administered to organ transplant patients to prevent graft rejection. In patients with cardiac transplants, management of DIGO is critical. In such patients, plaque biofilm accumulation at the gingival interface might be detrimental as it may lead to transient bacteremia as well as systemic inflammation resulting in thromboembolic events. This case report describes the management of DIGO in a cardiac transplant recipient by change of immunosuppressant medication, non-surgical periodontal therapy and laser-assisted gingivectomy.

Juvenile Hyaline Fibromatosis: Impact of Periodontal Care on Quality of Life and a Patient Perspective.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited condition presenting early in life and characterized by the accumulation of hyaline-like tissue in the skin as well as various organs. Gingival overgrowth is a significant oral manifestation. This paper highlights how early and essential periodontal intervention may be necessary to improve mastication and subsequent weight gain, and to eliminate pain and improve the patient's quality of life. Here we highlight the key features of this condition and demonstrate how appropriate surgical management can have a significant impact on a patient's wellbeing. CPD/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis has a significant impact on patient wellbeing and it is therefore important that clinicians are able to recognize the condition and ensure that patients receive appropriate care and management.

An update on crown lengthening. Part 1: Gingival tissue excess.

This is the first article in a two-part series which aims to provide an overview of the different techniques used to increase clinical crown height. In the first paper, the focus will be on the management of patients who present with gingival tissue excess. The different aetiologies are discussed and illustrated with clinical cases, following which a range of procedures that may be employed in the management of these patients are presented. With an increasingly ageing population, more patients are taking regular medications prescribed from their general medical practitioner, and so having a working knowledge of the specific drugs that may cause gingival enlargement is essential. Clinical Relevance: When patients with gingival tissue excess present in primary or secondary care, a clinician must have a good knowledge of the possible causes of the condition, as well as an idea of how the patient may be managed.

Diagnosis and management of focal reactive overgrowths of gingiva--a case series.

Localized overgrowths of gingiva such as peripheral fibroma, peripheral ossifying/cementifying fibroma, pyogenic granuloma and peripheral giant cell granuloma belong to a common group of lesions designated as focal reactive overgrowths (FROG). These growths are reactive in nature. They occur in response to chronic, low grade irritation caused by plaque or any other irritant. Etiology, clinical features and treatment modes of these lesions are the same with slight variations. The present case series describes five different cases of FROG where the lesions were treated by surgical excision under local anesthesia followed by a three month re-evaluation where no recurrences were observed.

Amlodipine-induced gingival enlargement--a clinical report.

Gingival enlargement is a known side effect of calcium channel blockers--especially the dihydropyridine group. It is a serious concern for both the patient and the clinician due to its unesthetic appearance and formation of new niches for periodontopathogenic bacteria. Among the calcium channel blockers, gingival enlargement has most frequently been described as a side effect following administration of nifedipine. The incidence with amlodipine is much lower; however, there have been few reports showing the association of this drug with gingival enlargement. This case report aims to make dentists aware of the adverse effects of amlodipine, as well offers a brief review of its effects on the gingiva and the management of enlargement.

Drug-induced gingival overgrowth: a case report.

A variety of systemic drugs can lead to adverse effects in the oral environment. This article reports the case of a 61-year-old man who had a severe drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) caused by nifedipine. DIGO is relevant due to severe gingival enlargement, which causes disfigurement and blocks physiological and social functions such as mastication and speaking. Management of DIGO is always a challenge due to the patient's systemic condition. This article shows, step-by-step, how the treatment was executed and how the DIGO was reversed.

Tumoral calcinosis: a dental literature review and case report.

UNLABELLED: Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is a rare familial disease characterized by abnormal peri-articular calcification in affected joints, without any associated renal, metabolic or collagen vascular disease. It is characterized by usual hyperphosphataemia with normal serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase values. There are only a few reported cases ofTC patients with dental findings. This article reviews the dental literature and describes progressive gingival, alveolar and mandibular tori enlargement in a 41-year-old female from Zimbabwe with tumoral calcinosis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Tumoral calcinosis is a rare disorder of mineral metabolism with oral manifestations.

Idiopathic Gingival Fibromatosis in a Pediatric Patient.

Idiopathic gingival fibromatosis (IGF) is a rare, benign, slow-growing proliferation of the gingival tissues involving both maxillary and mandibular gingiva. It is exacerbated during the eruptive phase of both primary and permanent dentitions. The purpose of this article is to report the case of a 10-year-old boy who presented with IGF whose gingival enlargement covered the occlusal surfaces of many teeth and displaced the erupting dentition, compromising the patient's cosmetics, function, speech and development. The treatment involved gingivectomy and gingivoplasty, combining both surgical and laser methods. The case showed remarkable esthetic and functional im provement, without signs of recurrence one year post-treatment.

Minimally destructive management of amelogenesis imperfecta and hypodontia with bleaching and bonding.

UNLABELLED: Amelogenesis imperfecta has a prevalence of 1:700 to 1:14,000, according to the populations studied and hypodontia has around 4.6-6.3% prevalence within the permanent dentitions of Caucasian European populations. Traditional treatment methods for these conditions include veneers and conventional bridges, which are invasive and unnecessarily destructive of remaining tooth tissue. The authors describe how, with the non-destructive use of bleaching, bonding and adhesive bridges, it is possible to achieve a reasonable aesthetic result in a practical way. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Amelogenesis imperfecta and missing teeth are common and significant clinical problems. General dental practitioners and specialists should be aware of effective, but minimally destructive, methods of treatment.

Aggressive pregnancy tumor mimicking a malignant neoplasm: a case report.

AIM: The aim of this report is to present the management of an aggressive, highly proliferative pregnancy tumor with clinical and radiographic characteristics highly suggestive of a malignant neoplasm. BACKGROUND: Pregnancy tumor is a benign hyperplastic gingival lesion occurring during pregnancy that is indistinguishable from a pyogenic granuloma arising in nonpregnant females, or in males. The lesion usually grows over a few months and tends to bleed. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 28-year-old woman at four months of gestation was referred for a massive gingival swelling (5.5 cm in greatest diameter) on the mandibular left side. The lesion was painful and continued to grow very rapidly over a three-week period, with spontaneous bleeding, and it interfered with speech and mastication. Advanced alveolar bone loss also was found beneath the lesion. A malignant process was suspected, and an incisional biopsy revealed a pregnancy tumor. The lesion was excised under general anesthesia during the pregnancy with no untoward reactions. SUMMARY: Pregnancy tumor represents an important differential diagnosis of oral masses and can behave in a very aggressive fashion, mimicking a malignant tumor. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This lesion should always be included in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue masses in a pregnant woman even if the lesion is clinically very aggressive. It is acceptable practice to excise aggressive variants of this lesion during pregnancy to avoid distressing side effects.

Modifications of periodontal tissues associated with Williams syndrome. A case report.

Williams syndrome, also known as Williams-Beuren syndrome, or elfin-facies syndrome, was described by Dr. Williams and Dr. Beuren for the first time in 1961 and 1962. This multisystem, congenital and panethnic disorder is characterized by a number of developmental and physical abnormalities like excess of gingiva. The goal of this article is to present the application of a protocol of periodontal treatment leading to the functional rehabilitation of the oral areas affected by excess of gingiva. A 19-year-old boy, diagnosed as suffering from Williams Syndrome, was brought to the dental school, University of Cagliari, seeking for orthodontic and periodontal treatment. During the consultation the excess of gingiva needing periodontal treatment was noticed. This report reveals a classic presentation of the syndrome, with emphasis on its oral and periodontal manifestations. Periodontal management included periodontal flap surgery to treat the excess of gingiva performing clinical crown lengthening. Re-evaluation of the patient after two months showed remarkable reduction of the excess of gingiva. Williams syndrome is clinically important to the periodontist, because of its associated features of excess of gingiva. Periodic examinations are recommended to identify any possible recurrence or complications.

Speech pattern improvement following gingivectomy of excess palatal tissue.

BACKGROUND: Speech disruption secondary to excessive gingival tissue has received scant attention in periodontal literature. Although a few articles have addressed the causes of this condition, documentation and scientific explanation of treatment outcomes are virtually non-existent. This case report describes speech pattern improvements secondary to periodontal surgery and provides a concise review of linguistic and phonetic literature pertinent to the case. METHODS: A 21-year-old white female with a history of gingival abscesses secondary to excessive palatal tissue presented for treatment. Bilateral gingivectomies of palatal tissues were performed with inverse bevel incisions extending distally from teeth #5 and #12 to the maxillary tuberosities, and large wedges of epithelium/connective tissue were excised. RESULTS: Within the first month of the surgery, the patient noted "changes in the manner in which her tongue contacted the roof of her mouth" and "changes in her speech." Further anecdotal investigation revealed the patient's enunciation of sounds such as "s," "sh," and "k" was greatly improved following the gingivectomy procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Palatometric research clearly demonstrates that the tongue has intimate contact with the lateral aspects of the posterior palate during speech. Gingival excess in this and other palatal locations has the potential to alter linguopalatal contact patterns and disrupt normal speech patterns. Surgical correction of this condition via excisional procedures may improve linguopalatal contact patterns which, in turn, may lead to improved patient speech.

Periodontal management of gingival enlargement associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Sturge-Weber syndrome (encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis) is a rather uncommon congenital condition that is characterized by a combination of venous angioma of leptomeninges over the cerebral cortex and ipsilateral angiomatous lesions of the face and sometimes of the skull, jaws, and oral soft tissues. It is commonly referred to as Sturge-Weber syndrome after Sturge and Weber who first described this affliction in 1879. This article presents a case of Sturge-Weber syndrome associated with severe gingival enlargement, its management, and follow-up results. METHODS: A 15-year-old male patient was referred to the Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, for severe gingival enlargement. A detailed dental and medical history, clinical examination, and investigations confirmed the diagnosis of Sturge-Weber syndrome. This report reveals a classic presentation of the syndrome with emphasis on its oral manifestations. Periodontal management included thorough scaling and root planing followed by periodontal flap surgery to treat the gingival enlargement. Histopathologic examination of the excisional biopsy specimen revealed features suggestive of fibrous gingival enlargement. RESULTS: Reevaluation of the patient after 2 years showed remarkable (90%) reduction of the gingival enlargement in the maxillary arch and complete diminution (100%) in the mandibular arch. However, a slight recurrence was noted in the maxillary right quadrant. CONCLUSIONS: Sturge-Weber syndrome is clinically important to the periodontist because of its associated gingival vascular features and their complicating manifestations. Periodic systemic and oral examinations are recommended to identify and prevent any complications from the cranial and oral lesions.

Use of an electrosurgical scalpel in gingival overgrowth associated with Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome.

We present a case of gingival overgrowth, with aesthetic repercussions, associated with Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome. Treatment consisted of electric gingivectomy. We noted that it is necessary to carefully monitor hemorrhaging during surgery as well as to provide a correct differential diagnosis to distinguish this syndrome from other illnesses that involve gingival growth.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex with Gingival Enlargement in an Adolescent.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant, multisystem genetic disorder. It is characterised by formation of benign hamartomas, neurofibromas, and angiofibromas located in different organs. We describe a case of a 13-year boy who complained of gingival enlargement. Clinical examination showed distinctive dermatological signs like hypopigmented macules, shagreen plaques, miliary fibromas, fibrous plaques and multiple angiofibromas. Oral manifestation included localised gingival enlargement. Gingivectomy was performed and the excised tissue was submitted for histopathological examination. The microscopic examination of gingival tissue revealed multiple bundles of collagen fibres with proliferating fibroblast and multiple proliferating blood vessels in the connective tissue. The clinical and histopathological findings were consistent with gingival angiofibromas of TSC. Gingivectomy allowed the patient to have better function and aesthetics. Periodontal examination in conjunction with dermatological examination is important for early diagnosis of TSC.

Treatment of gingival overgrowth in a child with Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare, heterogeneous, autosomal recessive condition, primarily characterized by polydactyly, obesity, mental retardation, hypogonadism, retinopathy, and renal failure. Dental anomalies, regarded as secondary manifestations, include hypodontia, microdontia, short roots, and deep palate. Few reports in the literature have described the oral manifestations of BBS. This article reports a case of BBS in a boy who presented some typical oral manifestations added to a generalized gingival overgrowth, an anomaly that had not been reported previously in patients with this syndrome. METHODS: A 12-year-old white male presented with a diagnosis of BBS and chief complaint of gingival enlargement in the anterior segment of both arcades. The treatment plan included surgical removal of the overgrown gingiva followed by orthodontic therapy. The excised tissues were submitted to histologic analysis. RESULTS: There was no sign of recurrence 1 year after gingivectomy. Histopathology revealed a dense connective tissue with a mild inflammatory infiltrate, irregularly arranged fiber bundles, and epithelial acanthosis, which is characteristic of gingival overgrowth. CONCLUSIONS: The gingival overgrowth was treated successfully by gingivectomy. The periodontal surgery minimized the functional, social, and emotional consequences of the oral manifestation associated with the syndrome.

Hypoplasminogenemia with ligneous periodontitis: a failed local therapeutic approach.

BACKGROUND: Hypoplasminogenemia is a rare condition that is associated with ligneous conjunctivitis, a form of chronic conjunctivitis characterized by firm, fibrin-rich, pseudomembranous lesions on the tarsal conjunctivae and oral lesions. Pseudomembranes may develop on the gingivae, and there may be periodontal involvement. METHODS: Several therapeutic approaches have been developed to treat such patients, but they have had limited effect. We used gingivectomies, topical heparin, and corticosteroids to treat periodontal lesions in an 18-year-old girl. RESULTS: This approach had no benefit. CONCLUSION: The question remains about how best to manage patients with hypoplasminogenemia.

Combined treatment approach of gingivectomy and CO2 laser for cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth.

The aim of this report is to present a combined treatment approach with gingivectomy and CO2 laser for the management of cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth in 4 cases. Four renal transplant patients were surgically treated for marked gingival overgrowth by means of gingivectomy and CO2 laser. Postoperatively, all patients were followed for bleeding, pain, infection during the early healing period, and recurrence of gingival overgrowth for 12 months. The healing was uneventful, and no signs of bleeding, postoperative pain, or infection were observed in any patient during the early healing period. In the 12th postoperative month, there was evidence of mild recurrence in 1 patient, while no sign of recurrence was observed in the other patients during the follow-up period. The advantages of this combined technique include satisfactory bleeding control and clear visibility during the procedure, as well as reduced postoperative pain and swelling.