Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis

Excerpt

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) is a rare infectious disease of the gum tissue, affecting <1% of the population. ANUG presents as an acute, painful, and destructive ulceration and inflammation of the interdental gum tissue. Although the prevalence of this disease is not high, its clinical importance is clear as it represents the most severe of conditions associated with the dental biofilm. If left untreated, ANUG can lead to very rapid tissue destruction, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP), and even cancrum oris (noma), which is commonly fatal. Treatment of ANUG is determined on a case-by-case basis, often with a multi-factorial approach that is tailored to the extent of the infection and to what the individual can tolerate.