Peripheral ossifying fibroma

Reactive lesions found on the gingiva are common and tend to be nonneoplastic growths. They are usually not painful and are often overlooked by the patient until they become symptomatic or are identified by their dentists. Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a lesion of the gingival tissues that predominantly affects women and is usually located in the maxilla anterior to the molars. The definitive diagnosis though is established by histological examination, which reveals the presence of cellular connective tissue with focal calcifications. Surgery is the treatment of choice, though the recurrence rate can reach 20%. This article presents a case of POF in a 21-year-old male in the mandibular posterior region, diagnosed and treated at our hospital