Clinical characteristics of peripheral ossifying fibroma: A series of 20 cases

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a reactive chronic localized hyperplastic gingival lesion. The present case-series was undertaken to determine the clinical variations in a series of different cases of oral POF. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data including age, gender, location, color, clinical diagnosis, size, consistency and radiographic view of the lesions were studied among clinical records at school of dentistry in Kerman, Iran, from 1998 to 2012. RESULTS: A total of 20 POF cases was subjected to clinical analyses, in equal numbers of men and women. The total frequency of POF was 2.5%, and 11 cases (55%) had occurred in the maxilla. POF showed a greater frequency of pink color (60%), anterior location (55%), firm consistency (85%) and a size of 1-1.5 cm (60%). Bone resorption and calcification were found in 35% and 25% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: In comparison with previous studies, despite investigation of similar clinical features of POF in the present study, findings also showed that characteristics such as age, gender and location cannot help in the differential diagnosis of POF from pyogenic granuloma.