THE CLINICAL EFFECTS OF NIFEDIPINE ON PERIODONTAL STATUS

THE PRESENT STUDY WAS CONDUCTED to determine the clinical effects of n ifedipine on the gingiva of 97 patients. Patients were examined for ch anges in periodontal status and divided into subgroups, based on their age, gender, duration of drug intake, presence/absence of plaque and gingival inflammation, and according to the presence and severity of g ingival overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth was noticed in 29% of the pati ents. Among the recorded parameters, duration of drug intake, presence /severity of gingival inflammation, and gender seemed to have the grea test effect on the development of gingival overgrowth. Patients with h igher gingival inflammation scores, those on nifedipine medication for more than 4 years, and males were likely to have an increased tendenc y for higher incidence and severity of gingival overgrowth. The findin gs of the present study suggest that nifedipine medication induces gin gival overgrowth and that certain local factors are involved in the pa thogenesis of drug-induced gingival overgrowth. However, individual ab ility and sensitivity to metabolize the drug and its metabolites also seem to be important etiological factors.