Comparative evaluation of biopsied gingival and alveolar mucosal lesions: A 13-year retrospective study

Gingiva and alveolar mucosa are exposed to similar chronic mechanical irritations in the oral cavity. They are common sites for plaque-induced and nonplaque-induced diseases.

This study aims to compare the categories, frequencies, and age distribution of the biopsied gingival and alveolar mucosal lesions, as well as to report their distribution at these two sites.

This retrospective study was performed on biopsied gingival and alveolar mucosal lesions taken for 13 years. The necessary information was noted, tabulated, and subjected to statistical analysis.

Of 5068 biopsies, 302 (5.95%) gingival and 70 (1.38%) alveolar mucosal biopsies were obtained, with female (61.82%) and male dominance (38.17%), respectively. Among gingival biopsies, reactive lesions were the most common (86.75%), followed by inflammatory and immune conditions and lesions (5.29%), neoplasms (3.64%), specific infections (0.33%), and gingival pigmentation (0.33%). The alveolar mucosal biopsies were most commonly diagnosed as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (58.57%), followed by moderately differentiated (28.57%), poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (5.71%), adenoid cystic carcinoma (2.85%), malignant salivary gland tumor (2.85%), and pyogenic granuloma (1.42%).

The study results show a high prevalence of gingival and alveolar mucosal biopsied lesions. Most reports suggested a prevalence of reactive lesions in gingival biopsies; on the contrary, alveolar mucosa showed predominance of neoplastic lesions. The two disciplines of dentistry (oral pathology and periodontics) must work together to formulate a functional classification for a definitive diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.