Plasma cell granuloma of gingiva.

An exceedingly rare case of gingival plasma cell granuloma is reported in a 40-year old female patient. The case presented as an exophytic mass of gingiva, clinically resembling traumatic fibroma. Histopathologic findings revealed dense sheets of plasma cells infiltrate. Immunohistochemistry for kappa and lambda light chains showed polyclonal (benign) staining pattern confirming a diagnosis of plasma cell granuloma. It is important to recognise this peculiar lesion because of its highly unusual incidence in involving the periodontium. Clinical features are usually suggestive of traumatic fibroma (benign) but histopathologicaly in early stages it closely resembles plasmacytoma (malignant). This case highlights the need to biopsy unusual lesions to rule out potential neoplasms and also emphasizes the need to submit all the excised tissue for histological examination regardless of clinical impression and/or perceived surgical success. Only by such practice can rare lesion of this type be diagnosed and their incidence studied.

Tissue engineering: prospect for regenerating periodontal tissues.

New advancements in technological fields, continually has had a major impact on dental practice. The emergence of tissue engineering and biomimetic concepts has enhanced the predictability of existing therapy and also has radically recast approaches towards the dentoalveolar reconstruction. Tissue engineering in the simplest sense is a combination of material sciences and biology to repair tissues and organs which will unquestionably offer an exciting therapeutic alternative that have never been available before. This article is a brief introduction to the ever expanding field of tissue engineering and its possible implication in periodontal regeneration.