Treatment of severe physiologic gingival pigmentation with free gingival autograft
The purpose of this article is to describe the use of free gingival autograft to treat severe physiologic pigmentation. The material included 10 patients with severe physiologic pigmentation and with esthetic concerns regarding the pigmentation. Two surgical areas were prepared. In one the bony surface would remain covered with periosteum and thin connective tissue (partial-thickness). In the other surgical area, the periosteum, connective tissue, and epithelium were completely removed (full thickness).The graft was harvested from an unpigmented area of the palate. Patients were examined up to 4.5 years following surgery. In all 10 areas in which the bed was full- thickness flap dissection, no evidence of pigmentation was seen. During the follow-up period, only one of 10 areas prepared with a partial-thickness dissection exhibited repigmentation after one year. All patients except one were satisfied with the results. In conclusion, the authors suggest the use of free gingival grafts on denuded bone for the treatment of the esthetic problem in patients suffering from severe gingival melanin pigmentation. [C.C.]
Tamizi M., and M. Taheri, Quint Int, 27:555,1996