Drug-induced gingival overgrowth.

摘要

An increasing number of dental patients are being treated with multiple medications; some of these medications have an adverse reaction on the mouth and periodontal tissues. One of the unwanted side effects of these drugs is gingival overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth is associated mainly with 3 types of drugs: 1. Antiepileptic drugs, especially Phenytion (Dilantin) 2. Calcium channel blockers, such as nifedipine 3. Immunosuppressant drugs, mainly cyclosporine Although these drugs have different pharmacologic effects on the body, they seem to influence the same tissues in the periodontium, mainly the gingival connective tissues, causing common clinical and histopatholog-ical findings.