GINGIVAL DEPIGMENTATION USING SIMPLE DE-EPITHELIZATION BY BUR ABRASION TECHNIQUE - A CASE REPORT

Dentofacial esthetics demands have increased tremendously in the past decade. Although gingival melanin pigmentation does not present a medical problem, clinicians are often faced with the challenge of achieving gingival esthetics. Melanin pigmentation of the gingiva occurs in all races. Gingival hyper-pigmentation is seen as a genetic trait in some populations and is more appropriately termed physiologic or racial gingival pigmentation. Pigmentation of gingiva not just has an impact on esthetics but also creates psychological negativity.Treatment of gingival melanin pigmentation can be done using scalpel, chemical agents, abrasion, grafts, electro surgery, cryosurgery or lasers. Recent reports on treatment of gingival melanin pigmentation using bur abrasion method which shows results in terms of ease of use, acceptance and patient comfort to be far superior to other techniques.