Research Article
Mihaela Ciobãnicã, Eugenia P
Abstract
Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the presence of drug-induced gingival overgrowth in patients admitted to one clinic between 2003 and 2007, and to explore whether the patients’ gender and age affected the likelihood of drug induced gingival overgrowth. Methods: The clinical charts of patients who were treated in a clinic between 2003 and 2007 were reviewed to identify how many patients presented with drug induced gingival overgrowth. The patients’ gender and age were recorded as well. Results: A total of 26 patients presented with gingival overgrowth between 2003 and 2007. Eleven of these patients were diagnosed with drug-induced gingival overgrowth (six due to phenytoin; five due to nifedipine; no patient with cyclosporine A-induced gingival overgrowth). Gingival lesions were more likely to be found in male patients who had taken phenytoin (five males vs. one female patient). No significant differences were found in the ages at which gingival overgrowth occured. Phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth occurred on average 24 months after phenytoin treatment was initiated and nifedipine-induced gingival overgrowth after 60 months. Oral hygiene was poor in all 11 patients. In the remaining 15 patients, gingival overgrowth was caused by bacterial plaque, leukemia, and pregnancy. The number of patients with nifedipine- and phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth (N=11) was close to the number of patients with gingival overgrowth due to other factors (N=15), namely due exclusively to bacterial plaque (N=12), leukemia (N=1), and pregnancy (N=1). Conclusion: The long-term administration of phenytoin and nifedipine for the treatment of various disorders in combination with poor oral hygiene can cause generalized gingival overgrowth. Surgical treatment and change of medication are necessary when gingival manifestations cause functional disorders.