Treatment of gingival enlargement caused by orthodontic treatment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the healing process of gingival enlargement in adolescents with and without fixed orthodontic appliances using conventional scalpel treatments over a 3-month follow-up period. 20 patients with gingival enlargement were divided into two groups. The control group, without fixed orthodontic appliances, received mechanical treatment through conventional scalpel. Test group, comprising patients with fixed orthodontic appliances, was treated using conventional scalpel. Follow-up visits were conducted on days 1 and 90. Clinical periodontal parameters, including plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and gingival overgrowth index, were compared across groups at different time intervals from baseline. All groups exhibited statistically significant reductions in clinical periodontal parameters during the study period (P < 0.05). Test group, treated with conventional scalpel, showed the fastest and most consistent improvements in the healing process compared to baseline. Conventional scalpel therapy proved to be an effective method for treating gingival enlargement, with no reported discomfort or pain during or after the procedure. Given the challenges patients with fixed orthodontic appliances face in maintaining oral hygiene, they should be scheduled for more frequent follow-ups and given thorough home-care instructions.