Treatment of amalgam tattoo with a subepithelial connective tissue graft and acellular dermal matrix

J Int Acad Periodontol. 2014 Apr;16(2):50-4.

Abstract

A 54-year-old female was referred for management of a large amalgam tattoo involving the alveolar mucosa between teeth #6 and #9. The lesion had been present for over 20 years following endodontic treatment of teeth #7 and #8. A two-stage surgical approach was used to remove the pigmentation, beginning with removal of amalgam fragments from the underlying bone and placement of a subepithelial connective tissue graft and acellular dermal matrix to increase soft tissue thickness subadjacent to the amalgam. Following 7 weeks of healing, gingivoplasty was performed to remove the overlying pigmented tissue. At the 21-month follow-up appointment, the patient exhibited naturally appearing soft tissue with no evidence of amalgam tattoo.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acellular Dermis*
  • Connective Tissue / transplantation
  • Dental Amalgam / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gingivoplasty / methods
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Mucosa / transplantation*
  • Periodontal Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Periodontal Diseases / surgery
  • Pigmentation Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Pigmentation Disorders / surgery
  • Re-Epithelialization / physiology
  • Skin Transplantation / methods*

Substances

  • Dental Amalgam