Plasma cell gingivitis in a 10-year-old girl.

Abstract

A 10-year-old girl with a gingival erythema lasting from one year, usually asymptomatic, sometimes responsible for paresthesia, was sent by the dentists with a suspicion of capillary malformation. The personal and family history was negative for significant disorders. Physical examination (Fig. 1) showed an erythema with clear-cut borders of the maxillary gingiva level with the upper incisors and to a lesser extent with the upper canines. A histological examination (Fig. 2, 3) showed hyperplasia of the epithelial ridges and a massive infiltrate consisting almost exclusively of plasma cells in the chorion. The final diagnosis was plasma cell gingivitis. The girl was asked to brush her teeth without tooth-paste and not to use chewing gum or candy of any kind. After a month the situation was unchanged.