Squamous papilloma

 • Benign exophytic proliferation of squamous epithelium.

 • Most occur in adults aged 30– 50 y.

 • the exact aetiology is unknown but the role of human papilloma virus strains 6 and 11 has been implicated in its causation.

 • predilection for hard and soft palates and the uvula. • histology shows papillary fronds lined by squamous epithelium.

 • prognosis is excellent. do not undergo malignant transformation.

Fibroepithelial polyp

 • Benign proliferation of fibrous tissue in response to irritation/ trauma.

 • presents as a painless oral lump in an adult aged 30– 50 y.

 • histology shows a subepithelial mass of dense collagenous tissue.

 • prognosis is excellent with no inherent tendency to recur.

 Peripheral ossifying fibroma

 • asymptomatic, slow- growing, pale- pink firm growth of the gingiva.

 • Seen mostly in young adult females.

 • probably arises from the periodontal ligament due to chronic irritation.

 • histology shows randomly dispersed foci of bone, cementum- like material, and dystrophic calcification in a fibroblastic stroma.

 • prognosis is excellent. recurrence rate of ~15% if incomplete removal.

Peripheral giant cell granuloma

 • painless, well circumscribed, reddish- purple mass on the gingiva, anterior to the molar teeth (mandible > maxilla). Female 30– 50 years of age.

 • thought to arise from the periodontal ligament space and the giant cells are of odontoclastic origin.

 • histology shows multiple multinucleated giant cells in a vascularized f ibroblastic stroma with haemorrhage and haemosiderin.

 • prognosis is excellent. recurrence rate of ~15% if incomplete removal.

 Pyogenic granuloma

 • Benign vascular lesion, also known as ‘lobular capillary haemangioma’.

 • presents as a dark red polypoid mass which often ulcerates.

 • histology shows a lobulated proliferation of small blood vessels.

Mucocele

• Caused by blockage or rupture of a salivary gland duct.

 • presents as a fluctuant lesion, most commonly on the lower lip.

 • histology shows a cystic space filled with mucin and lined by inflammatory tissue.

Amalgam tattoo

 • an exogenous pigment associated discoloration of the oral mucosa, composed of granules of silver amalgam used in the filling of dental cavities.

 • appears as a grey- black macule of few millimetres in size

• Commonly located on the alveolar ridge, interdental papillae, alveolar mucosa, floor of the mouth, and the vestibule.

 • histology shows large amounts of dark metal or brown pigment often coursing along reticulin fibres in the connective tissue especially around blood vessels.

 • prognosis is excellent. there is little to no response by the host tissue to the embedded silver amalgam.