Desquamative gingivitis as only presenting sign of mucous membrane pemphigoid

Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a clinical condition in which the gingiva appears reddish, glazed, and friable with loss of superficial epithelium. DG is considered a clinical manifestation of many gingival diseases and hence not identified as a diagnosis itself. Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is an autoimmune vesiculobullous disorder of mucous membrane characterized by subepithelial bullae formation. MMP can affect the mucous membranes of oral cavity, conjunctiva, nasopharynx, larynx, esophagus, genitourinary tract, and anus and vary in its severity. The most commonly affected sites are oral cavity and conjunctiva. Since DG may be the early sign or only presenting sign of these conditions, most of the times, dental surgeon plays a key role in the diagnosis and prevention of the systemic complications of these diseases. We report a case of a 41-year-old male patient presented with DG. Histopathological examination revealed subepithelial clefting suggestive of MMP. The patient was treated with topical application of triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% 3–4 times a day for 1 month.