Journal of PEARLDENT

Oral pigmentation is both the usual and unusual discoloration of oral mucous membrane. Most of the pigmentation found in ginviva and oral mucosa is physiologic but sometimes it can be a forerunner of some systemic diseases. Oral pigmentation is associated with hormones, use or drugs, race and hereditary factors etc. Physiologic pigmentation of the oral mucosa is clinically manifested as multifocal or diffuse melanin pigmentation with variable prevalence. Clinical melanin pigmentation of the gingiva does not present a medical problem although complaints of “pigmented gingiva” may cause esthetic problems and awkwardness, particularly if the pigmentations are noticeable during speech and smiling. Various methods have been tried to treat this melanin pigmentation which hampers the esthetics.