Etiology: caused by number of diverse factors; an exuberant response to chronic inflammation associated with dental biofilm or other local factors such as calculus; associated with specific drugs, notably the anti-convulsant phenytoin, calcium channel blockers and cyclosporine; hormone changes in puberty and pregnancy
Transmission: none
Epidemiology: equal distribution among ages, between genders and across racial groups
Pathogenesis: presence of excessive amounts of keratinocyte growth factor, a type of fibroblast growth factor; poor oral hygiene; inadequate oral hygiene and are taking drugs associated with this condition, or who are going through hormonal changes, have higher risk of developing this condition than individuals who have good oral hygiene
Characteristics: generalized or it can be limited to a localized area; inflammatory and presents with edema and erythema; more fibrotic and presents as firm enlargement of gingival tissues; edematous
Dental: obtain a thorough medical history
Treatment and Prognosis: discontinuance of offending drug, often results in reduction or resolution of hyperplasia; increased efforts toward oral hygiene that result in reduction of biofilm will reduce inflammatory component of hyperplasia; surgical removal of excess tissue, called gingivectomy; prognosis depends on cause of hyperplasia; hormone-induced hyperplasia may resolve when hormones come back into balance; drug-induced hyperplasia may resolve after discontinuing the drug; discontinuing the drug might not be an option, in which case there is a high probability that hyperplasia will recur, even after surgery