title: Exostosis following a free gingival graft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been few cases reported of exostoses following a free gingival graft. In 1980, a free gingival graft was placed on the facial level of 33-34, developing over the years a significant enlargement. In 1999, since the patient felt progressively uncomfortable with the enlarged area, its surgical reduction was proposed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Under local anesthesia, the hard tissue developed under the previously-grafted area, was significantly reduced. The specimen, together with a fragment of the covering soft tissue, was sent for histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgical wound healed uneventfully, and the patient was satisfied with the results. The histology showed the presence of mature bone surrounded by a dense connective tissue, whereas the gingival tissue showed acanthosis and fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of exostoses following a free gingival graft can be considered an unpredictable, albeit infrequent side-effect of this procedure. The fact that most of these exostoses appear in the cuspid-premolar area, deserves further consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Dental School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jjperio@teleline.es
authors.forename: José J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Echeverria
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D005096:Exostoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014945:Wound Healing