Linear gingival erythema (LGE) is a periodontal disorder diagnosed based on distinct clinical characteristics. It was originally thought that LGE was directly associated with HIV, and it was thus called HIV-associated gingivitis (HIV-G). Later research confirmed that LGE occurs in HIV negative immunocompromised patients, and it was thus renamed.^[1]

[edit] Presentation

LGE is limited to the soft tissue of the periodontium, appearing as a red line 2-3 mm in width adjacent to the free gingival margin. Unlike conventional periodontal disease, though, LGE is not significantly associated with increased levels of dental plaque.^[1]

The prevalence of LGE remains unclear^[2] and there is no known treatment.

[edit] References

v • d • e Periodontology Tissues of the periodontium and their physiologic entities Alveolar bone · Biologic width · Bundle bone · Cementum · Free gingival margin · Gingiva · Gingival fibers · Gingival sulcus · Junctional epithelium · Mucogingival junction · Periodontal ligament · Sulcular epithelium · Stippling Diagnoses Chronic periodontitis · Localized aggressive periodontitis · Generalized aggressive periodontitis · Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic disease · Necrotizing periodontal diseases · Abscesses of the periodontium · Combined periodontic-endodontic lesions Pathogenesis A. actinomycetemcomitans · B. forsythus · Capnocytophaga sp. · F. nucleatum · P. gingivalis · P. intermedia · T. denticola Pathologic entities Calculus · Edentulism · Fremitus · Furcation defect · Gingival enlargement · Gingival pocket · Gingivitis · Horizontal bony defect · Linear gingival erythema · Occlusal trauma · Periodontal pocket · Periodontal disease · Periodontitis · Plaque · Recession · Vertical bony defect Diagnosis, treatment planning, prevention and chemotherapeutic agents Brushing · Bleeding on probing · Chlorhexidine gluconate · Enamel matrix derivative · Flossing · Hydrogen peroxide · Mouthwash · Oral hygiene · Tetracycline · Triclosan Periodontal armamentarium Curette · Membrane · Probe · Scaler Conventional therapy Debridement · Scaling and root planing · Full mouth disinfection Surgical therapy and periodontal surgery Apically positioned flap · Bone graft · Coronally positioned flap · Crown lengthening · Open flap debridement · Free gingival graft · Gingivectomy · Guided bone regeneration · Guided tissue regeneration · Implant Placement · Lateral pedicle graft · Pocket reduction surgery · Sinus lift · Subepithelial connective tissue graft Important personalities Per-Ingvar Brånemark · Jan Lindhe · Willoughby D. Miller · Carl E. Misch · John Mankey Riggs · Dennis P. Tarnow · James Leon Williams · W. J. Younger Other specialties Endodontology · Orthodontology · Prosthodontology