Gingival Enlargement in Children Treated With Antiepileptics
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the occurrence, severity, and risk factors of gingival enlargement in children treated with valproate and other nonvalproate antiepileptic drugs. A cross-sectional study was carried out in which data obtained from 68 epileptic children under treatment were compared with those from 50 controls. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on patients' demographics, dental and oral hygiene practices, and medication history. Gingival enlargement, gingival index, plaque index, and probing depth were measured to assess periodontal health. The chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used in statistical analysis. In case of significance, a detailed chi-square analysis was carried out to determine the origin of the difference. Patients in both the valproate and nonvalproate groups showed significantly higher gingival enlargement, gingival index, plaque scores, and pocketing (P < .001 and P < .01, respectively) than the control group. In the valproate group, the duration of the treatment had a significant effect on gingival enlargement (P < .001) but not on gingival index, plaque index, and probing depth values (P > .05). Toothbrushing was most frequent in the control group (P = .000) and more frequent in the valproate group than the nonvalproate group (P = .024). Our study showed significant differences regarding gingival enlargement in children treated with valproate. These findings illustrate that epileptic children on valproate are at risk of periodontal problems.
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This case report aligns with studies by Tan et al. (2004) and Maislla et al. (2024), which reported that long-term duration of antiepileptic drug use (two years), combined with increased gingival and plaque indices, contributed to the development of gingival overgrowth.
“Hence, this case report aligns with the studies by Tan et al. (2004) and Maislla et al. (2024), which reported that a long-term duration of antiepileptic drug use (two years), combined with increased gingival and plaque indices, contributed to the development of gingival overgrowth.”
From Sodium Valproate-Induced Gingival Enlargement in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report With Surgical Intervention (2025) · cites this paper as Tan et al. (2004)
Tan et al. in 2004 showed that the duration of the drug had a significant effect on gingival enlargement but not on the gingival index, plaque index, and probing pocket depth.
“Tan et al. in 2004 showed that the duration of the drug had a significant effect on gingival enlargement but not on the gingival index, plaque index, and probing pocket depth [19].”
From Sodium Valproate-Induced Gingival Enlargement in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report With Surgical Intervention (2025) · cites this paper as [19]
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- Authors
- Tan, H., Gürbüz, T., & Dağsuyu, I. M.
- Affiliations
- Atatürk University (TR)
- Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
- Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
- Corresponding author
- Tan, Hüseyin
- ORCID
- Tan, Hüseyin
- Venue
- Journal of Child Neurology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 958-963
- ISSN
- 0883-0738 (ISSN-L)
- 1708-8283
- OpenAlex
- W1762409004
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Oral and gingival health research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Keywords
- gingival hyperplasia, valproic acid, antiepileptic drugs, pediatric epilepsy, periodontal health, gingival index, dental plaque, toothbrushing, drug-induced gingival hyperplasia, risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Anticonvulsants, Carbamazepine, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dental Plaque Index, Epilepsy, Female, Humans, Male, Periodontal Index, Phenobarbital, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Toothbrushing, Valproic Acid, Case-Control Studies, Gingival Overgrowth
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