Fibrous Epulis: The Reactive Gingival Enlargement to Excise or Not to Excise

Abstract

The volume thickening of soft tissue covering the alveolar ridges, designed gingival enlargement, is one of the frequent findings in clinical practice. However, they fail under varied presentations and their distinction allows a clinical diagnosis and defines an appropriate treatment to reduce recurrence. Among the diverse types of enlargement, fibrous epulis is the most common one. It is a localized uniform gingival overgrowth caused by tissue oedema and inflammatory hyperplasia in response to local irritations. This report outlines a case of fibrous epulis concerning a 56 years old male patient, in our periodontology department. A careful medical history, examination of the gingival, periodontal health status, and its reevaluation were assessed. Conventional periodontal treatment has been sufficient to minimize the gingival size. After an excisional biopsy, the histopathological examination was the determinants tool to accurate the diagnosis of fibrous epulis. Patient motivation and compliance during and after therapy has been a critical factor in the success of periodontal treatment and a key to prevent the recurrence of such lesions.