My daughter is 3, and on Dilantin. Kim Loos Dr. Kimberly A. Loos practices general dentistry in San Jose, California. She is also a clinical instructor at University of Pacific School of Dentistry and an editor for Dentistry On-Line. Dear Danda, Dilantin is a widely used drug to control most types of epilepsy, and one of its most common side effects is gingival hyperplasia.
Gingival hyperplasia is essentially an overgrowth of gum tissue.
Not all chronic users of Dilantin experience this side effect. The severity of gingival hyperplasia will also vary among patients. Dilantin may impair the secretion of an enzyme that breaks down excess collagen. This is the suspected mechanism that causes overgrown gum tissue. This usually occurs within 2 weeks to 3 months after the initial administration of Dilantin.