Abstract
Epulis development related to congenital teeth is very rare, with few cases reported. We present 3 cases of epulis related to congenital teeth. In one, the epulis was presented at birth, then recurrence after tooth extraction and epulis resection was noted. The other two cases demonstrated an epulis in the lower primary incisor region following congenital tooth extraction.All congenital teeth in the present cases were extracted because of severe mobility and bleeding,and the gingival tumors developed after those extractions. The tumor mass in each patient appeared to have a hard component in X-ray images and was completely removed, including hard tissue. In histopathological findings, bone tissue formation was observed in the epulis, thus each case was diagnosed as epulis osteoplastica. This finding suggested survival of the organization of the dental papilla of the extracted congenital tooth, in which bone formation occurred due to inflammatory reactions by collagen fibers. Good results were obtained in each case when the epulis was excised along with hard tissue.Based on our experience, it is important to excise an epulis associated with congenital teeth, including any residual congenital tooth tissue. Furthermore, if congenital tooth exfoliation or extraction occurs, the potential formation of an epulis should be considered and careful observation is required.
