Calcium Channel Blockers

1. Antihypertensive drugs in the calcium channel blocker group widely used in elderly patients who have angina or peripheral vascular disease [50,63].

2. Nifedipine (Nai-FED-I-peen), one type calcium channel blocker used as a coronary vasodilator agent in the treatment of hypertension, angina, cardiac arrhythmia. Calcium channel blockers are a class of drugs that block the flow of calcium ions through the cardiac and vascular smooth muscle cell membranes. This results in the expansion of the main coronary arteries and systemic arteries.

a. Approximately 38% of patients taking nifedipine experience gums expansion.

B. The clinical picture of nifedipine associated expansion of the gums recalls that phenytoin related gums extension (Fig. 10-11).

3. Various other calcium channel blocking drugs, such as diltiazem, felodipine, nitrendipine, and verapamil may also cause gum extension (Fig. 10-12).

4. Surgical excision of tissue overgrowth is often required.

Unfortunately, the expansion of the gum will probably be back within 1 to 2 years, even with good plaque biofilm control, especially if a patient older than 25 years. If plaque biofilm control is inadequate, regrowth will happen quickly. The patient should be warned of the likelihood of recurrence expansion of the gums after surgery. ..