Incidence of verapamil-induced gingival hyperplasia in a dental population

The records of 5,000 dental patients were reviewed for history of verapamil use between 1987 and 1990. Twenty-four dentate patients who received verapamil for more than 1 year were identified. Of these, gingival hyperplasia occurred in 1 patient (4.1%) that was limited to the mandibular attached gingiva. Onset of gingival overgrowth was associated with drug dosage, bacterial accumulation, and gingival inflammation. Histologically, the findings resembled that seen in hyperplasia induced by phenytoin, cyclosporin, and other calcium channel blockers. Our data suggest that gingival hyperplasia caused by verapamil occurs less frequently than nifedipine-induced gingival hyperplasia.