Exostosis following a free gingival graft.
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.
Echeverria
José J
JJ
Department of Periodontics, Dental School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jjperio@teleline.es
Montero
Mauricio
M
Abad
Daniel
D
Gay
Cosme
C
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