Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma Managed by Laser-assisted Excision: A Case Report

Abstract

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a benign reactive fibro-osseous gingival lesion with a recognised tendency to recur, particularly when local irritative factors persist or excision is incomplete. This case report describes the clinical, histopathological, and therapeutic management of a recurrent POF using diode laser-assisted excision. A 40-year-old woman presented with a painless gingival swelling in the mandibular anterior region, associated with occasional bleeding during brushing. She had undergone surgical removal of a similar lesion at the same site three years earlier. Clinical examination revealed a solitary, pedunculated, pink gingival growth measuring approximately 7 × 10 mm in relation to teeth 31, 41, and 42. Following oral hygiene instructions, scaling, root planing, and re-evaluation, the lesion was excised under local anaesthesia using a 980 nm diode laser. The excised tissue was submitted for histopathological examination. Microscopy demonstrated parakeratinised stratified squamous epithelium overlying inflamed fibrocellular connective tissue containing fibroblasts, collagen fibres, chronic inflammatory cells, and areas of calcification, confirming the diagnosis of POF. Postoperative healing was satisfactory, and periodic follow-up showed no clinical evidence of recurrence over 12 months. This case demonstrates the use of diode laser-assisted excision for management of a recurrent POF, with histopathological confirmation and continued postoperative surveillance forming essential components of care.