Idiopathic Gingival Enlargement Causing Social Stigma

Gingival enlargement can be multifactorial; it can be due to nutritional deficiency or can be because of several drugs. Poor oral hygiene may further worsen the gingival hyperplasia, because of which the patient may have difficulty in chewing the food, and the speech may get affected. It may end up in psychosocial stigma for the patient as the patient is even neglected by friends or relatives due to poor oral hygiene and horrifying look of gingival overgrowth. Here, we report a case of gingival enlargement in a 22-year-old married female. The enlargement was massive, such that the teeth were barely visible in the anterior mandible. Based on history and histological findings, the case was diagnosed as idiopathic gingival enlargement. Conventional gingivectomy was planned. The patient was kept on the maintenance phase, and no recurrence was recorded. During the whole treatment phase, there was a notable change in the behavior of the patient. Surgical correction and subsequent maintenance of good oral hygiene may improve the disease condition, which in turn helps the patient in not only improving the aesthetics but also results in better social acceptance.