“GUMMY TOOTH”: AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION OF PYOGENIC GRANULOMA

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a type of inflammatory hyperplasia and is a common tumor like growth of the oral cavity or skin that is considered to be non-neoplastic in nature. The name “pyogenic granuloma” is somewhat a misnomer in that the lesion does not contain pus, as the word “pyogenic” suggests, and is not strictly speaking a granuloma. A 55 year old female reported to our OPD with a complaint of gummy tooth in the front upper region. On clinical examination, it was seen that there was a soft, exophytic tooth like growth extending from attached gingiva to just above the incisal edge of adjacent tooth, placed in edentulous area between the right central and left lateral incisor. The oral hygiene of the female was poor. Excisional biopsy was done and the provisional diagnosis of pyogenic granuloma was confirmed.