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Cryosurgical treatment of melanin-pigmented gingiva
1Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung, Taiwan.
Objective:
Abnormal deposition of melanin in gingiva can often occur. Complaints of "black gums" are common, and demand for depigmentation is usually made for esthetic reasons. A simple and effective cryosurgical technique to eliminate the pigmentation is the subject of this article.
Study Design:
Twenty patients with dark gingiva were treated by direct application of liquid nitrogen with a cotton swab for 20 to 30 seconds.
Results:
The treated gingiva appeared normal within 1 to 2 weeks after 1 or 2 cryosurgical treatments. The acceptance of the treatment was excellent.
Conclusions:
This was a simple, bloodless cryosurgery for the depigmentation of gingiva, requiring no local anesthesia or sophisticated equipment.