The patient can also experience damage or loss of teeth. Obvious signs
Most obvious sign is gingival overgrowth (overgrowth of the gums)
Hindered chewing efficiency and difficulties eating
Increasing mobility of teeth
Abnormally shaped teeth and abnormal movement of teeth
Inflammation and/or swelling of the gums/gingiva
Not necessarily any signs of pain but experiencing pain is possible
Difficulties in speaking, oftentimes can lead to speech disorders
Other dental and oral problems
In some cases, Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis may cause bleeding from the gums, or gum ulcerations. Cause
Though much more research needs to be done, researchers have mostly agreed that a mutation in SOS1, son-of-sevenless gene, is responsible for this disease. SOS1 is a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor that functions in the transduction of signals that control cell growth and differentiation. A mutation in the SOS1 gene results in a single nucleotide insertion. Specific linkage studies have localized the mutation for isolated, nonsyndromic autosomal dominant forms of gingival fibromatosis to chromosomes 2 and 5, more specifically 2p21-p22 and 5q13-q22. Genetic
HGF1 - Caused by a mutation in the SOS1 gene localized on chromosome 2p21-p22HGF2 - Caused by a mutation in the SOS1 gene localized on chromosome 5q13-q22Mutations in the RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) gene can also cause this syndrome. Non genetic
HGF may also be caused by unwanted side effects of pharmacological agents like phenytoin, ciclosporin, and some calcium-channel blockers, meaning HGF is a disease that can be drug-induced. However, there is little next to no research done in this area to support the claim.
The physician can make a physical evaluation of the patient and send them to a dentist or better yet a specialist like a periodontist to evaluate signs of gingival overgrowth, quality of gingiva, inflammation, mechanical difficulties of the mouth, tooth conditions, and any sort of discomfort.Aside from obvious physical symptoms seen in a physical evaluation, molecular tests can be run to check if there is a mutation in the SOS1 gene to confirm the diagnosis. If there is indeed a mutation in this gene coupled with the typical physical symptoms, then it is quite probable that a patient suffers from this disease. Also, looking at family history is also becoming more prominent in aiding to diagnose the patient. Otherwise, researchers are working to find new and better ways to test for the presence of HGF. Prevention
Since this condition is generally agreed upon to be hereditary, nothing can be done to prevent HGF. However, in some cases where it can develop as a result of rare multi-system syndromes, such as: Zimmerman-Laband, Jones, Ramon Syndrome, Rutherford Syndrome, Juvenile Hyaline Fibromatosis, Systemic Infantile Hyalinosis, and Mannosidosis, it is best for one to simply monitors the possible progression for HGF with regular dental check-ups.If the patients disease is treated by means of surgery, it is recommended that the patient undergoes post-surgical therapies for maintenance and periodic monitoring of gums for the sake of the possibility of re-occurrence of HGF. Treatment
This disease has not been shown to be life-threatening or the cause of death in patients.