[Prevention and non-surgical periodontal therapy of calcium channel blockers induced severe gingival overgrowth].

Introduction and objective: Gingival overgrowth is an adverse drug reaction in patients on long-term calcium channel blocker therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of non-surgical pocket therapy in patients suffering from Grade III drug-related gingival overgrowth. Method: 10 (7 female and 3 male) patients (age between 50–69 years) diagnosed with severe, Grade III gingival overgrowth were treated in our department. Non-surgical periodontal therapy consists of improving of individual oral hygiene, scaling, polishing and subgingival mechanical debridement instrumentation. The main periodontal parameters (probing pocket depth, bleeding index, plaque index and mobility) were scored in this study. Bone loss was evaluated by orthopantomograms and periapical radiographs. Calcium channel blockers have not been replaced by any other medications during the whole course of periodontal treatment.

Results

Compared with baseline parameters, all scores improved after therapy. All patients showed decrease in the average probing pocket depth, deepest probing pocket depth, bleeding scores, plaque scores and tooth mobility. None of the patients needed further surgical treatment. In our followed-up patients, recurrence of gingival overgrowth has not been observed during the two-year meticulous supportive periodontal care in the patient group.

Conclusion

Non-surgical periodontal treatment can be a potential definitive therapy in Grade III gingival overgrowth associated with gingivitis or moderate periodontitis. Periodontal screening and treatment before or simultaneously with the administration of calcium channel blockers can prevent the gingival enlargement in the majority of patient. These results outline the importance of the successful cause related periodontal therapy, started before or simultaneously with the administration of anithypertensive medications and in this way a series of further expensive therapies could be anticipated. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(13): 506–512.