Gingival enlargement, also mistakenly used synonymously with gingival hypertrophy and gingival hyperplasia, describes a condition that occurs when the size of the gingiva increases.
Gingival hyperplasia typically refers to the increase in the number of cells, whereas gingival hypertrophy deals with the increase in cell size.
These microscopic distinctions are both indicative of a disease process.
Gingival enlargement can be induced by three main causes stemming from inflammation, medication, and systemic disease.
► Read also : ORTHODONTIC : Managing Pain or Discomfort Caused by Orthodontic Appliances
Treatment can be in the form of allowing for spontaneous resolution once the etiology is removed, instituting proper dental hygiene, nonsurgical treatment, and/or surgical treatment.
This article will briefly discuss examples of gingival enlargement and its associated causes, as well as present a new form of surgical treatment that can assist in correcting certain types of gingival enlargement.
Inflammatory-induced gingival enlargement
Inflammatory-induced gingival enlargement is typically caused by biofilm (bacteria) and the host response, resulting in familiar forms of periodontal disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Swelling, erythema, and bleeding are signs of these diseases ...
perioimplantadvisory.com
By Scott Froum, DDS
Disqus comments