Smokers' melanosis. Occurrence and localization in the attached gingiva

Abstract

The aim was to clinically study the frequency and extension of the melanin pigmentation in the attached gingiva and its relation to tobacco smoking. The population examined consisted of patients and dental nurse students at the School of Dentistry in Umeå, Sweden. All of the patients with pigmentation proved to be tobacco smokers. The pigmentation was given to name "smokers' melanosis.". Between 12.9% and 14.9% of those examined and between 25.5% and 31.0% of those who smoked had smokers' melanosis. Patients with smokers' melanosis had a significantly higher tobacco consumption than smokers without pigmentation. In 95.2%, smokers' melanosis was found in the mandible and was most common in the attached gingiva on the labial side of the canines and incisors. Smokers' melanosis is thus condidered to be caused by tobacco smoking and is expected to be found in other parts of the oral mucosa.

Association of Melanin Pigmentation in the Gingiva of Children With Parents Who Smoke

“…Stimulatory agents of pigmentation in ETS can be introduced to saliva and might reach melanocytes through gingival epithelium. Gingival pigmentation was often observed in labial areas, 3,6,7,9 where ETS may not overlap directly. Furthermore, the majority of ETS is aspirated through the nose.…”

“…The prevalence rate of gingival pigmentation is diverse according to race and country [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] ; hence, heredity may be a background factor. Intake of antimalarial drugs including chloroquine 10 and quinidine 11 is also associated with oral pigmentation.…”

“…13 Melanin pigmentation in gingiva is correlated with active smoking: smokers displayed a greater propensity toward pigmentation than did nonsmokers. [3][4][5][6][7]9 A dose-response relationship with prevalence was detected. [4][5][6][7] Prevalence of pigmentation decreased in relation to the number of years after smoking cessation.…”

“…Gingival pigmentation often occurred in the labial area of anterior teeth. 3,6,7,9 Excessive pigmentation in palatal mucosa as a result of tobacco smoke is a rare phenomenon, except in instances of reverse smoking. 15 The prevalence of gingival pigmentation in smokers increased and approached maximum levels on slight exposure to smoking in minimal categories of duration of smoking and number of cigarettes smoked.…”

Management of Gingival Pigmentation with Diode Laser: Is It a Predictive Tool?

“…2 Oral melanin pigmentation is well documented in the literature and is considered to be multifactorial. Whether the condition is physiological or pathological, it can be caused by a variety of local and/or systemic factors 3,4 including genetic, tobacco use, [5][6][7] prolonged administration of certain drugs especially antimalarial agents and tricyclic antidepressants. 8 Gingival pigmentation has been classified as: 9 0-no pigmentation;…”