Gingival Hyperplasia – What is it, Causes and Treatments!

Gingival Hyperplasia – What is it, Causes and  Appropriate Treatments with this condition. Also,  Gingival Hyperplasia is a medical condition where the gums increase in size. This condition is also known as gingival overgrowth, hypertrophic gingivitis or gingival hypertrophy.

There are several types available, which will be discussed further below, but two of the most important are those induced by different drugs and those associated with inflammatory disorders. Gingival Hyperplasia can also be congenital and is considered a rare condition.

This condition is often seen in children who are diagnosed with epilepsy , but otherwise there is no prevalence of race or sex. Before proceeding with the different types, it is important to make the difference between hyperplasia and hypertrophy, as these terms are often used for this condition and are not as similar as you might think.

When we say hyperplasia, it means that the cells in the gums have increased in numbers. As for hypertrophy, this means that the cells in the gums keep their number constant, but their size has increased. That’s why there are experts who prefer not to use either of these two terms, but rather choose gingival enlargement as the final diagnosis.

Types of Gingival Hyperplasia:  According to the medical literature, there are five different types of Gingival Hyperplasia :

• Gingival Hyperplasia associated with inflammation;
• Medication-induced gingival hyperplasia ;
• Gingival Hyperplasia associated with different medical disorders (systemic involvement);
• Cancer -associated gingival hyperplasia ;
• False gingival enlargement.

Determining the type of Gingival Hyperplasia is essential, because each type has its own set of causes. By the time the type has been identified, will be the causes. Once the cause is identified, appropriate treatment can be given. Because, when it comes to Gingival Hyperplasia , the treatment depends on the cause.

Causes of Gum Hyperplasia:  These are the most common causes of Gum Hyperplasia :

• Gingival Hyperplasia is found in people diagnosed with epilepsy and treated with phenytoin;
• Treatment with phenobarbital can also lead to this problem;
• Medication;

Other drugs that can induce these problems are:

• Cyclosporine (immunosuppressant);
• Calcium channel blocking agents (nifedipine, amlodipine).

There are also certain risk factors that can favor the appearance of  drug-induced gingival hyperplasia :

• Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis);
• Poor oral hygiene;
• Excessive dental plaque;
• Nickel accumulation;
• Proliferation of epithelial cells;
• Periodontal disease;
• The depth of the periodontal pocket;
• Duration and dose of treatment administered.

Congenital gingival hyperplasia can have the following causes:

• Hereditary transmission;
• Metabolic disease – fetal valproate syndrome;
• Chronic inflammation of the gums;
• Systemic causes;
• Pregnancy;
• Teenagers (reaching puberty);
• Vitamin deficiency (especially vitamin C);
• Pyogenic granuloma;
• leukemia ;
• granulomatosis;
• Sarcoidosis;
• Cancerous growths (benign or malignant);
• False gum enlargement occurs when there is a part of the bone or teeth that are actually detached and causing the changes.

Symptoms of Gingival Hyperplasia:  These are the most common symptoms of Gingival Hyperplasia:

• In most cases, there is no other symptom than actual gingival enlargement.

When gingival hyperplasia is caused by poor oral hygiene, the following symptoms may accompany gingival enlargement:

• Dental plaque builds up on the teeth, pushing on the gums;
• Gums are sensitive to touch;
• Inflammation will occur in the affected area;
• Gums can bleed;
• The most affected areas include the labial gingival mucosa and interdental spaces;
• If there is also excessive gum growth, then the teeth may be covered by the overgrown tissues;

If the gingival enlargement is caused by the administration of different medications, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

• Gums are firm and swollen;
• They are not touch sensitive;
• They have a pink color;
• Bleeding does not occur;

Gums can grow, covering the crown of teeth and leading to periodontal disease, overgrowth can also affect the eruption of new teeth and even cause malalignment.
In case of Congenital Gingival Hyperplasia , the following symptoms can be found:

• Inflammation may only be in one part of the gum or it may be generalized;
• The gums are pink and firm to the touch;
• Teeth can be covered by overgrown gums, leading to displacement of new teeth.

Treatment For Gum Hyperplasia:  These are the most common courses of treatment and recommended changes for  Gum Hyperplasia :

• Adequate oral hygiene;
• Removal of dental plaque (complete and professional dental cleaning);
• Regular brushing of teeth (improved technique);
• Constant dental floss;
• Use antiseptic mouthwash;
• Dental treatments for periodontal disease;
• Professional debridement with root sizing and planning;
• gingivectomy;
• Surgical removal of excessive gingival tissue.

Often, surgical removal of excess tissue is performed because of aesthetic concern rather than functional purposes. Gingival enlargement recurs in patients of younger age, those who suffer from chronic gingival inflammation, or those who continue to maintain poor oral hygiene.

• Provide adequate treatment for the systemic disease that led to the Gingival Hyperplasia in the first place;
• Ultrasonic treatments have also shown promising results with regard to the treatment of Gingival Hyperplasia;
• Antibiotic therapy is recommended to prevent or treat secondary infections.