Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia

Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia is an oral pathologic condition that appears in the mouth as an overgrowth of tissue usually beneath a denture. It is also known as papillary hyperplasia of the palate and erroneously as palatal papillomatosis. It is associated with poor denture hygiene, denture overuse, and dentures not fitting well.

The exact cause of inflammatory papillary hyperplasia is unknown. In people who wear dentures 24 hours a day, its incidence is around 20%. It appears as an asymptomatic erythematous area, usually the hard palate, with a pebbly surface. Nonetheless, it may also occur on the hard palates of patients who are chronic mouth-breathers. Sometimes, this disease can found in conjunction with another denture-related disease, an epulis fissuratum.

The appearance of an epulis fissuratum microscopically is an overgrowth of stratified squamous epithelium cells. Depending on the how advanced the condition is, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia may be present.

In cases of mild cases, treatment consists of removal of the denture with spontaneous regression of the disease. In advanced cases of inflammatory papillary hyperplasia, surgery may be needed, along with behavioral modification toward proper denture use.