title: Cryosurgical treatment of melanin-pigmented gingiva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abnormal deposition of melanin in gingiva can often occur. Complaints of "black gums" are common, and demand for depigmentation is usually made for esthetic reasons. A simple and effective cryosurgical technique to eliminate the pigmentation is the subject of this article.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with dark gingiva were treated by direct application of liquid nitrogen with a cotton swab for 20 to 30 seconds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treated gingiva appeared normal within 1 to 2 weeks after 1 or 2 cryosurgical treatments. The acceptance of the treatment was excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a simple, bloodless cryosurgery for the depigmentation of gingiva, requiring no local anesthesia or sophisticated equipment.
authors.affiliation: Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009584:Nitrogen
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen