Gum fibromatosis is a pathological increase in the volume of connective tissue. This pathology is considered genetically determined, but the exact reasons that could contribute to the onset of the disease have not yet been determined.
General pathology information
It is slowly progressing and is not very common. If a person has a genetic predisposition to him, then the first signs of pathology appear already at the teething stage in an infant. In the absence of a hereditary factor, the disease can develop in young people, as well as middle-aged patients.
Most often, patients are diagnosed with generalized fibromatosis. In this case, the connective tissue grows throughout the gum and its volume gradually increases further. This form of the disease subsequently leads to the fact that the teeth are completely hidden (even the cutting part).
Sometimes the patient has focal fibromatosis. Here, growths are limited in size. They represent several foci that are not interconnected.
Causes of the disease
There are only a few reasons for the development of pathology:
- Hereditary predisposition. In this case, the disease manifests itself in the first year of life. The reaction of the body to teething or a violation of the hormonal background can provoke the development of the disease. In adults, generalized fibromatosis appears due to blood diseases, pregnancy.
- The use of drugs. In this case, the disease is caused by drugs such as Phenytoin (to eliminate epilepsy attacks), Cyclosporin (depressing immunity), as well as oral contraceptives. Calcium channel blockers can be dangerous : Nifedipine, Verapamil. Drugs for the treatment of hypertension also contribute to the development of fibromatosis.
The emergence of the dosage form of the pathology does not depend on the gender of the person or his age. That is, she appears at any stage of life.
Main symptoms
Gum fibromatosis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Swelling of the interdental papillae, as well as the edges of the gums.
- The uniformity of the shade of soft tissues - they acquire a uniform pink color.
- A change in the shape of the gums, which become like rollers.
- Sealing growths.
- Difficulty in the eruption of crowns, both dairy and permanent.
- Closing teeth with overgrown tissue at least halfway.
If the patient has such symptoms, it means that he develops gingival hyperplasia. It is necessary to treat a pathology while it still does not cause severe discomfort.
The degree of development of fibromatosis
Gum fibromatosis progresses slowly. In total, there are 3 stages of the development of the disease:
- First one. The thickening of the gums becomes like a roller, and the overgrown tissue covers the teeth 1/3 of the height. The fabric structure is very dense.
- The second one. Here closing of already half a crown is characteristic. While brushing your teeth or eating, your gums bleed.
- The third. The interdental papillae, as well as the surrounding soft tissue, are enlarged to such an extent that they can completely close the tooth. The gingival margin becomes uneven, covered with granulation tissue. She periodically bleeds, even if she did not give in to mechanical stress.
It is advisable to start therapy at the first stage of the development of the disease, in order to avoid complications. Most often, surgical intervention is used for treatment.
Complications and associated diseases
Gum fibromatosis must be treated, as it causes a lot of discomfort. First of all, the patient's gums form deep gingival canals into which food enters. Its accumulation leads to the development of an inflammatory process, accompanied by suppuration.
In addition, tartar is formed in these pockets, which helps to injure soft tissues. Overgrowth does not allow a person to normally bite off and chew food, which provokes the development of gastrointestinal pathologies. The patient is not able to brush his teeth normally. In babies, the crowns cannot cut through, so that the deformation of the jaw bone can occur.
A rather dangerous complication of the disease is the destruction of partitions between the teeth, as well as a decrease in bone density. Gingival hyperplasia leads to loosening and loss of crowns. A very serious complication is the degeneration of overgrown tissue into malignant. After its removal, relapses of the disease can occur, which entails a second operation.
Diagnosis of the disease
If a person has swollen gums, treatment should be done only after an accurate diagnosis is established. It should be differential, since fibomatosis can be confused with other pathologies of the oral cavity: hypertrophic gingivitis.
The doctor prescribes such studies to the patient:
- External examination of the gums and fixation of complaints. The patient should describe his feelings in as much detail as possible.
- Histological analysis of overgrown tissue.
- X-ray examination.
In some cases, a biopsy of the cells taken for analysis can be done, which will help confirm or deny the presence of a malignant pathological process.
Disease treatment
If a person has swollen gums, the treatment depends on the cause of the disease. For example, to eliminate the dosage form of the pathology, you just need to cancel the drug that provoked the proliferation of tissue. In this case, the disease independently passes without a trace.
As for the genetically determined disease, here, in addition to the operation, no more therapeutic methods are used, since they will simply be ineffective. Folk remedies can not stop the growth of tissues. There is currently no medical alternative to surgery.
Surgery lasts only half an hour. The operation involves the removal of the affected gingival margin. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. After the intervention, a special orthodontic dressing is applied to the gum. Thanks to her, the infection will not be able to get into the wound.
During the operation, sanitation of the oral cavity is also carried out . That is, plaque must be removed from the surface of the teeth, the depth of the gingival canals should also be measured. After the intervention, the patient will need to be periodically shown to the doctor to monitor recovery.
Since the presented disease can recur, then after surgery, a person will need to carefully monitor his health, and try to prevent the resumption of tissue growth.
Fibromatosis Prevention
If a person has previously been diagnosed with gum fibromatosis , treatment cannot guarantee that he will not reappear. Therefore, the patient should follow these recommendations:
- Observe oral hygiene daily.
- Try to prevent the occurrence of dental diseases or treat them immediately when the first signs appear.
- It is important to choose the right brush and toothpaste to avoid damaging your gums.
- If medications were prescribed for the treatment of any inflammatory or infectious disease, then they should be taken with extreme caution.
Fibromatosis is a very unpleasant and painful pathological condition that not everyone can get rid of to the end. However, it cannot be left without treatment. Be healthy!