Cryosurgical Treatment of Gingival Melanin Pigmentation - A 30-Month Follow-Up Case Report

Introduction: Cryosurgery is a branch of therapeutics that makes use of local freezing for the controlled destruction or removal of living tissues. Cryosurgery has been tried with satisfactory results for gingival depigmentation. However, documented evidence in the literature is extremely limited. The present case report describes the successful management of excessive gingival pigmentation by cryosurgery. The patient underwent follow-up for 30 months.

Case presentation: A 21-year-old South Indian dark-skinned female presented with dark brown to black gingival melanin pigmentation. The darkly pigmented gingiva had been present since birth. Cryosurgery using nitrous oxide and gas expansion cryoprobe cooled to -70°C was used for the depigmentation. The depigmentation was performed from maxillary right cuspid to maxillary left cuspid in a single appointment. The patient reported no adverse effects and no repigmentation of the treated areas for a period of 30 months.

Conclusions: Cryosurgery is an easy procedure, with lack of bleeding and scar formation. The esthetic outcome may be maintained for 30 months as shown in the present case. Cryosurgery can be considered a desirable treatment option for gingival depigmentation.

Keywords: Cryosurgery; follow‐up study; gingiva; physiology; pigmentation; wound healing.