Periodontal therapy for a patient with the chronic periodontitis and drug-induced gingival hyperplasia

Abstract

Drug-induced gingival hyperplasia is a side effect symptom caused by anticonvulsant, antihypertensive or immunosuppressant. Many clinical reports suggest that such symptoms are controllable with appropriate oral hygiene instruction and periodontal treatment as gingival hyperplasia is usually not caused by medication alone, but caused or exacerbated by gingivitis due to poor oral hygiene. Presented here is a case of a 53-year-old male patient with chief complaints of tooth mobility of lower anterior teeth and right-upper molars along with gingival bleeding. At the initial visit, he was diagnosed as generalized moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis and gingival hyperplasia in the lower anterior region. History taking revealed systemic conditions he suffered including after-effect of cerebral hemorrhage, peripheral nerve disorder and high blood pressure. For these, the patient was prescribed several medications including calcium antagonists whose known side effects include gingiva hypertrophy. As a result of basic periodontal treatment and oral hygiene instruction in consideration for the systemic diseases, the patientʼs periodontal environment has improved and the post-treatment course uneventful.