Generalized gingival hyperplasia occurring during pregnancy

In this report, we present a case of generalized gingival hyperplasia related to pregnancy causing chewing, speaking, breathing and cosmetic problems. The patient was a 26-year-old woman in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, with generalized gingival hyperplasia affecting both buccal and lingual aspects of the maxilla and mandible. The hyperplastic tissues, together with mobile teeth, were excised completely; no recurrence was observed for the remainder of the pregnancy. Hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy have long been known to be associated with generalized gingival hyperplasia. Pregnancy does not cause the condition, but altered tissue metabolism in pregnancy accentuates the response to local irritants. This case was of clinical interest because of the extent of tissue proliferation, with the teeth in both the upper and lower jaw completely submerged.