Peripheral ossifying fibroma: A case report

Introduction: Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a common solitary gingival overgrowth thought to arise from the gingival corium, periosteum and periodontal ligament (PDL). Commonly used synonyms for POF include calcifying fibroblastic granuloma, peripheral fibroma with calcification, peripheral cementifying fibroma, and calcifying or ossifying fibrous epulis. Case Report: This article presents a case of peripheral ossifying fibroma in a 25­year­old female along with the clinical, histopathologic, and treatment details. Conclusion: Ossifying fibroma occurs mostly in craniofacial bones, the peripheral type shows a contiguous relationship with the PDL, occurring solely on the soft tissues overlying the alveolar process. The reasons for considering a PDL origin for POF include: exclusive occurrence of POF in the gingiva (interdental papilla); the proximity of the gingival lesion to the periodontal ligament; the presence of oxytalan fibers within the mineralized matrix of some lesions. A slowly growing soft­tissue mass with speckled calcifications in the anterior oral cavity of young adults or children should raise a suspicion of a reactive gingival lesion such as POF. The etiology of POF is unclear. POF should be treated by total excision to prevent recurrence.