INTRODUCTION
Leaf-shaped fibroma is an hypertrophic lesion that can affect the palate under an inadequate prosthesis. The hypertrophic tissue is limited and flattened, supported by a narrow peduncle providing vascularization and acting as a zipper, since it allows the lesion to fold downwards.

AIM
The aim of the present study is to show, through a clinical and histological evaluation, the correlation between inadequate removable partial prosthesis (RPP) with metal framework and the leaf-shaped fibroma affecting the hard palate. Also, the Authors aim at showing the effectiveness of  in tissue healing, after surgical excision of the lesion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was performed on a 59-year-old male patient with partial edentulism, rehabilitated with removable partial prosthesis (RPP) and metal framework attached to two crowns molten on teeth 1.6 and 2.6.

Given the close topographic correlation between the palatal lesion and the palatine RPP, a new checkup is performed 15 days after the patient last used the removable prosthesis. Using local anesthetic with vasoconstrictor to control bleeding, the lesion is excised,  is placed and then sutured. The excised lesion is then sent to an anatomic pathology laboratory for the histological evaluation.

RESULTS
After suture removal, there is a complete restitutio in integrum of the diseased tissue, which allowed to provide the prosthetic rehabilitation in short time.

CONCLUSIONS
The use of  allowed perfect healing of the palatal mucosa, which is fundamental to restore a prosthetic rehabilitation in short time. Therefore, its use is recommended to satisfy the functional needs and avoid the reduction of the ridge volume caused by alveolysis, and the esthetical needs, which cannot be ignored nowadays.

Università degli Studi di Bari “A. Moro” Dipartimento di Odontostomatologia e Chirurgia
XX Congresso nazionale Docenti di Odontoiatria

AUTORI
INCHINGOLO Francesco, COLELLA Alessandro, MARRELLI Massimo, PALLADINO Antonio, TATULLO Marco, INCHINGOLO Angelo Michele, MALCANGI Giuseppina, INCHINGOLO Alessio Danilo, SCHINCO Fabio, MARANO Giuseppe, GAGLIARDI Angelo, MARINELLI Grazia, DIPALMA Gianna.

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BIBLIOGRAFY
JE Bouquot, KKH Gundlach. Oral exophytic lesions in 23,616 white Americans over 35 years of age. – Oral surgery, Oral medicina, oral pathology, 1986 – Elsevier Macintyre DR, Pell G, Briggs JC. Primary oral malignant melanoma presenting as a leaf fibroma. – Br Dent J. 1986 Aug 23;161(4):131-2. Brook IM, Lamb DJ. Surgical/prosthetic problems of a large leaf fibroma. – Dent Update. 1988 Apr;15(3):126.