Treatment of Gingival Enlargement

Abstract

Gingival enlargement or overgrowth is a common disease of gingiva. The causative factors may range from inflammation due to local factors to conditioned enlargement and neoplastic enlargements. They commonly present as bulbous interdental gingival, diffuse swelling of gingival. Due to the unaesthetic appearance of the overgrown gingiva, treatment becomes inevitable. This results in excision of overgrowth known as gingivectomy. The first gingivectomy procedure was explained by Robicsek in 1884 and later by Zentler (1918). Grant (1979) defined gingivectomy as excision of soft tissue wall of pathologic periodontal pocket. Gingivectomy procedures can be done by means of scalpel, laser, electrosurgery and chemosurgery. The ultimate result remains the same indifferent of the method used. However the amount of remaining keratinized gingival and esthetic appearance is of supreme importance.