Gingival Overgrowth

Gingival overgrowth is a common feature of gingival disease. The accepted current terminology for this condition is gingival enlargement or gingival over growth. These are strictly clinical descriptive terms and avoid the erroneous pathologic implication of terms used in the past, such as "hypertrophy gingivitis" or "gingival hyperplasia". Gingiva and associated soft tissues of the periodontium may beenlarged in response to various interactions between the host and environment. Gingival enlargement usually represents an inflammatory response to bacterial plaque but it increases susceptibility to systemic factors or condition, so that consideration should be kept in mind during the course of patient evaluation.