Pigment Deposits in the Gingivae

Pigment deposits in the gingivae. Most people with dark skin colour and also people with Asian ethnic background have pigmentation of the gingivae as a completely normal phenomenon. Common aetiologies of pigment deposits include drugs (e.g. chloroquine, contraceptive pills) and smoking, in some cases also heavy metal poisoning or some systemic diseases. If necessary, biopsy can be taken to ensure that the lesion is only an innocent pigmentation and not a melanocytic change.

Picture: Raimo Suhonen