Introduction: A size increase of the gingiva can be a manifestation of gingival disease. While gingival lesions can affect periodontal tissue, only few reports described the association between peripheral giant-cell granuloma (PGCG) with dental implants and their clinical management. Their clinical relevance is of a great interest since some lesions may lead to extensive bone resorption, esthetic alterations, or even tooth/implant loss. To the author's best knowledge, no specific guidelines for the treatment of PGCG affecting dental implant in the esthetic zone have been reported. The aim of this paper was to report an extensive PGCG associated with a dental implant in the esthetic area and its surgical management.
Case presentation: A 39-year-old suffered from concussive trauma on her anterior maxillary dentition leading to an expanded, purplish soft tissue lesion surrounding the implant provisional crown on right central maxillary incisor. After complete lesion excision, the implant neck was carefully and gently debrided. Histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of PGCG. The patient was then evaluated weekly for the first 3 weeks then monthly. No episodes of recurrence were identified. After 16 weeks of undisturbed healing, a soft tissue augmentation via tunnel technique was elected as the first treatment option to improve esthetics. Final implant restoration was delivered. Follow up at 22 months from biopsy excluded any recurrence of PGCG with stability of peri-implant soft tissues.
Conclusion: Excisional biopsy, careful removal of irritating factors, monitoring, and connective tissue grafting can esthetically improve a malpositioned implant and showed no recurrence over a period of 22 months.
Keywords: Dental implants; grafting; pathology, oral; peripheral giant cell granuloma; tissue.
© 2019 American Academy of Periodontology.