Pregnancy Associated Gingival Enlargement

Abstract

In this report, we present a case of gingival enlargement related to pregnancy causing chewing, speaking, breathing and cosmetic problems. The patient was a 23-year old woman in the eighth month of her first pregnancy, with localized gingival enlargement affecting both buccal and lingual aspects of the area between right maxillary lateral incisor and canine. Hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy have long been known to be associated with generalized or localized gingival enlargements. Pregnancy does not cause the condition but altered tissue metabolism in pregnancy accentuates the response to the local irritants.