Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia: review of literature and case report involving a 10-year-old child.

Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia is a benign lesion of the palate seen most often in patients with a history of ill-fitting dentures or poor oral hygiene. The specific cause is unknown. Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia can occur at any age. However, it is most often seen in patients in the third to fifth decades. It occurs more frequently in males and whites. The best treatment is surgical removal. The prognosis is excellent, once the lesion is removed. The patient presented in this case report is a 10-year-old black girl without a history of a dental prosthesis. It is conjectured that poor oral hygiene and a habit of mouth breathing contributed to the occurrence of inflammatory papillary hyperplasia in this patient. The lesion was surgically removed, and the patient was followed up for a period of 18 months without recurrence of the lesion.