A Family Report of Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare hereditary condition characterized by abnormal enlargement of the gingival tissue with a variable clinical manifestation. Typically, the hyperplastic gingiva is normal in color and consistency, and the tendency of bleeding is minimal. The swelling may be limited to a particular location or generalized over the whole gingiva. Usually, the symptoms appear during and after the eruption of permanent dentition. Gingival proliferation in HGF causes a variety of esthetic and practical issues. Depending on the size and intensity of the overgrowth, speech and chewing may be impaired. Moreover, diastema and prolonged primary dentition retention may occur. This article describes the identification, management, and treatment approaches of four cases affecting a Syrian family who lived in Arbat refugee camp in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. Proliferative fibrous outgrowth of the gingival tissue, with different degrees of involvement, is a hallmark of HGF. Surgery is frequently necessary to restore function and appearance, though varying degrees of recurrence is anticipated. Nonetheless, the psychological advantages of cosmetic improvement exceed the dangers of recurrence by a wide margin, especially in teenagers.