• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.631-639
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• 2000

Desquamative gingivitis is characterized by a diffuse erythema of the free and attached gingiva associated with areas of vesiculation, erosion, and desquamation. Desquamative gingivitis is not a distinct disease entity but represents a reaction pattern of the gingiva to various stimuli. Pemphigus vulgaris, cicatricial pemphigoid, and lichen planus may presents as desquamative gingivitis. We observed 3 patients whose disease was limited to the gingiva, and studied them by light and direct immunofluorescence microscope. We classified them according to clinical, histologic, and immunopathologic observations. Identification of the underlying causes of desquamative gingivitis is of utmost importance and is dependent upon clinical, histologic, and immunologic criteria.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.135-139
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• 2015

Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a gingival manifestation of systemic mucocutaneous disorders such as mucous membrane pemphigoid, oral lichen planus, and pemphigus vulgaris. The lesion is very painful, so affects the patient's ability to do proper oral hygiene practices. This may be a potential risk factor for long-term periodontal health. However, there is some controversy about the relationship between the existence of DG and periodontal status. Although the correlation between DG-associated diseases and periodontal status is not to be certain, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment including adequate plaque control and removal of local factors is very important for preventing the progression of diseases and destruction of periodontal tissues.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.726-733
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• 2014

The gingiva consists of an epithelial layer and an underlying connective tissue layer. The oral epithelium is a keratinized, stratified, squamous epithelium. The epithelium can be divided into the following cell layer: basal layer, prickle cell layer, granular cell layer and keratinized cell layer. The desquamative disease of gingiva means exfoliative diseases of epithelial layer on the gingiva. The chronic desqumative gingivitis is usually related to the dematologic disorders that produce cutaneous and mucous membrane blisters. The cicatricial pemphigoid and lichen planus are representative diseases of the dermatologic cases. Patients may be asymptomatic or symptomatic. When symptomatic, their complaints range from a mild burning sentation to an severe pain. The clinical examination must be considered with a thorough history, and routine histologic and immunofluorescence studies. A systemic approach needs to achieve accurate diagnosis and treatment of the gingival desquamative diseases.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.174-180
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• 2023

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic autoimmune bullous disease caused by autoantibodies to proteins in the oral mucosa and skin. It is a rare disease with an annual incidence of 2.059 per million in South Korea. In many patients with PV, oral mucosal lesions precede other lesions elsewhere, and oral lesions can be the only manifestation. Early diagnosis is important because the disease has a high mortality rate if untreated appropriately in the early stages, and rapid treatment initiation is associated with rapid disease control. Oral PV lesions are clinically variable. In this study, we describe oral PV lesions in a 60-year-old woman, a 75-year-old man, and a 60-year-old man presenting with various clinical presentations. Oral PV lesions can affect any part of the oral mucosa, including the buccal mucosa, gingiva, tongue, palate, and free mucosa, and can vary in appearance from desquamative gingivitis, painful ulcers, and erosions to aphthous-like stomatitis. Clinicians should be aware of the difficulty of early diagnosis in PV, particularly when oral lesions are the only manifestation, and should consider many factors, including the patient's age, to make an accurate diagnosis and manage oral lesions to improve the patient's quality of life and avoid delayed diagnosis.