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Gingival Hypertrophy

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Pathology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

  • 66 Accesses

Synonyms

Gingival enlargement; Gingival hyperplasia; Gingival overgrowth

Definition

Gingival hypertrophy/hyperplasia is a localized or generalized, often irregular enlargement of the attached and marginal gingiva due to several causes (Fig. 1), such as drugs (anticonvulsants, cyclosporine, calcium channel blockers, erythromycin), infections, autoimmune, hormonal changes (pregnancy, puberty), nutritional deficiencies (vitamin C, scurvy), and systemic disease (leukemia, sarcoidosis, Wegener’s granulomatosis). Localized forms probably result of an unusual hyperplastic tissue response to chronic inflammation associated with local factors such as plaque, calculus, or bacteria. A portion of a quadrant or all quadrants may be involved. The increase is usually due to an increase in extracellular matrix, predominantly collagen. Hyperplasia refers to an increased number of cells, and hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of individual cells. Both terms are used disorderly and can be the...

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References and Further Reading

  • Butler, R. T., & Kalkwarf, K. L. (1987). Drug-induced gingival hyperplasia: Phenytoin, ciclosporine and nifedipine. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 114, 56.

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  • Camargo, P. M., Melnick, P. R., Pirih, F. Q. M., Lagos, R., & Takei, H. H. (2000). Treatment of drug-induced gingival enlargement: Aesthetic and functional considerations. Periodontology 2000, 27, 131–138.

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  • Dongari, A., Mc Donnell, H. T., & Langlais, R. P. (1993). Drug-induced gingival overgrowth. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology, 76, 543–548.

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  • Hassell, T. M., & Hefti, A. F. (1991). Drug-induced gingival overgrowth: Old problem, new problem. Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine, 2, 103–137.

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  • Li, R., Byers, K., & Walvekar, R. R. (2008). Gingival hypertrophy: A solitary manifestation of scurvy. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 29, 426–428.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital/The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, The Netherlands

    Jacqueline E. van der Wal

Authors
  1. Jacqueline E. van der Wal
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Correspondence to Jacqueline E. van der Wal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands

    J.H.J.M. van Krieken

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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van der Wal, J.E. (2017). Gingival Hypertrophy. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_718-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_718-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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