Melanin hyperpigmentation of gingiva usually does not present a medical problem, but many patients may considertheir black gums to be unaesthetic. Melanin pigmentation of gingiva is symmetric and persistent, and it does not alter normal gingival architecture.1
Various depigmentation techniques have been employed with similar results, such as gingivectomy, gingivectomy with free gingival autografting, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemical agents such as 90% phenol and 95% alcohol, abrasion with a diamond bur, Nd:Yag laser, semiconductor diode laser and CO2 laser.2
Cryotherapy is a method of tissue destruction by rapid freezing. The cytoplasm of the cell freezes, leading to denaturation of proteins and cell death. This procedure does not require use of local anesthesia, is relatively a painless procedure, and has been shown to produce excellent results lasting for several years. This procedure does not even require a periodontal dressing. However, the removal of pigments cannot be evaluated during the procedure and requires a separate sitting after about 5 days, during which the residual pigmentation should be removed.3 Cryotherapy has been introduced as an effective therapeutic method in treating oral mucosal lesions such as leukoplakia, pyogenic granuloma, and peripheral giant cell granuloma.4
This report describes the effects of cryotherapy on physiologic pigmentation of oral mucosa and it is hoped that the results will be used to suggest an effective method for treatment of similar oral mucosal lesions.