In these individuals, the combination of chronic inflammation, bacterial biofilm accumulation, and altered gingival tissue response may significantly increase the severity of gingival overgrowth, negatively affecting oral hygiene, periodontal stability, esthetics, and overall quality of life.
Clinically, gingival enlargement associated with medications such as calcium channel blockers, anticonvulsants, and immunosuppressive agents may present with fibrotic tissue proliferation, pseudo-pocket formation, bleeding on probing, and progressive periodontal deterioration.
When underlying periodontitis is already present, the inflammatory burden may further exacerbate tissue enlargement and complicate periodontal management.
For this reason, early diagnosis and comprehensive periodontal evaluation remain essential to prevent long-term functional and biological complications.
► PDF: Peri-implant Mucositis vs Peri-implantitis: Clinical Differences Every Implant Dentist Should Know
Successful management of these cases often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving meticulous plaque control, nonsurgical periodontal therapy, patient education, and collaboration with the patient’s physician to evaluate potential modifications in systemic medication when clinically feasible. In more advanced situations, periodontal surgical intervention may also be necessary to restore gingival contour and facilitate adequate oral hygiene maintenance.
These important clinical considerations are extensively discussed in the article “The Management of Drug-Induced Gingival Enlargement in a Patient With Preexisting Periodontitis”, published in Cureus.
The authors present a highly relevant clinical case that highlights the interaction between drug-induced gingival changes and chronic periodontal inflammation, emphasizing the importance of individualized treatment planning and long-term periodontal maintenance in medically compromised patients.
📖 We invite you to read the full PDF article to explore the complete clinical case, therapeutic strategies, and periodontal management protocols discussed by the authors.
