Treatment of amalgam tattoo with a subepithelial connective tissue graft and acellular dermal matrix

A 54-year-old female was referred for management of a large amalgam tattoo involving the alveolar mucosa between teeth #6 and #9. The lesion had been present for over 20 years following endodontic treatment of teeth #7 and #8. A two-stage surgical approach was used to remove the pigmentation, beginning with removal of amalgam fragments from the underlying bone and placement of a subepithelial connective tissue graft and acellular dermal matrix to increase soft tissue thickness subadjacent to the amalgam. Following 7 weeks of healing, gingivoplasty was performed to remove the overlying pigmented tissue. At the 21-month follow-up appointment, the patient exhibited naturally appearing soft tissue with no evidence of amalgam tattoo.