[Clinical study of gingival hyperplasia in epilepsy patient]

Diphenylhydantoin, which was first introduced in clinic by Meritt and Putnam in 1938, has been in wide use for the treatment of epilepsy because of its excellent antispasmodic action. On the other hand, Diphenylhydantoin induced gingival hyperplasia has been examined by many authors in the dental field since gingival hyperplasia was reported by Kimball as its side effect. Recently, we had an opportunity for performing gingivectomy on hypertrophic gingivitis in an epileptic with mental retardation and visual disturbance, on Phenytoin (5,5-Diphenylhydantoin) medication. Some information obtained is reported, together with its therapeutic course.