Gingival overgrowth in partially edentulous ridges in an elderly female patient with epilepsy: a case report

Drug-influenced gingival overgrowth is an unaesthetic overgrowth of gingiva principally associated with intake of drugs like phenytoin, cyclosporin A and nifedipine. Its occurrence in both dentate and edentulous regions of oral cavity is poorly understood.

This report highlights clinical and histological description, aetiology and management of gingival overgrowth in a partially edentulous (non-denture wearer) 60-year-old female patient with epilepsy on phenytoin and phenobarbital drugs from past 7 years.

Patient's intraoral examination revealed lobulated and fibrotic consistency gingival overgrowth around teeth and on partially edentulous ridges of upper and lower arches along with generalised tooth mobility. Under medical consultation, full mouth extraction, surgical excision of overgrowth followed by complete denture rehabilitation and replacement of combination drugs with sodium valproate were accomplished.

Histologically, the lesion showed fibro-epithelial hyperplasia. Clinical results after 6 months demonstrated almost complete resolution of gingival overgrowth.

The findings of present case suggest that gingival overgrowth can occur even in partially edentulous ridges (not exposed to denture wear) that could be due to persistence of gingival overgrowth, which may not resolve completely following tooth extraction or occurs because of incorporation of specific subpopulation of gingival fibroblasts in alveolar ridge mucosa.