DESQUAMATIVE GINGIVITIS: IN DENTISTRY

A variety of oral mucous membrane diseases are capable of producing erosive or vesiculo bullous lesions of the gingiva, with either localized or relatively extensive involvement. Occasionally, the gingival erosive or desquamating lesions may represent the initial expression of a specific mucosal disease, such as lichen planus or pemphigus. In other instances, the disease may be confined to the gingiva and diagnosis may be more difficult. Gingival involvement may be accompanied by involvement of other areas, but this might be relatively insignificant and could go unobserved unless the gingival pathology alerted the clinician to examine the remainder of the oral mucosa carefully and to obtain an adequate medical history with emphasis on skin and mucosal sites other than the mouth.