Uso de los tratamientos físicos y químicos para la pigmentación gingival: Una revisión sistemática

Abstract

Introduction: Melanin pigmentation in the gum is a physiological condition caused by excessive melanin deposition. It can be treated with various techniques, including surgical correction; such as scalpel depigmentation, which is summarized in removing epithelial tissue, revealing connective tissue for healing by second intention. The laser technique is the most widely used due to its great advantages. There are a large number of studies on treatments for gingival pigmentation; however, the search carried out did not find a systematic review in Spanish describing its uses. Objective: To describe the use of physical and chemical treatments for gingival pigmentation based on a systematic review of the literature. Methodology: Information sources were consulted, such as: Medline (PubMed), Virtual Health Library, Science Direct, SciELO and Google academic. Adult patients of both sexes and variable ages with a maximum 5-year follow-up were included. Results: A total of 50 articles were found that met the established inclusion criteria. The studies analyzed showed that the vast majority of both physical and chemical treatments are widely useful and effective in gingival aesthetics, the use of lasers standing out among physicists. Conclusion: Diode laser and cryosurgery are the methods with the least recurrence of pigmentation. The scalpel is an effective alternative since it does not cause reappearance of melanic spots; however, it can cause post-operative bleeding and requires more healing time.