Diagnostic Delay in Desquamative Gingivitis: An Observational Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES: Non-plaque-induced gingivitis encompasses a heterogeneous group of conditions as defined in the 2017 Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. Recognition is challenging and often leads to diagnostic delay. This study aimed to evaluate diagnostic delay in a cohort of patients with non-plaque-induced gingivitis presenting as desquamative gingivitis, and to identify associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this observational study, patients were recruited from public and private oral medicine centres. Participants completed a questionnaire collecting demographic, social, and clinical information related to their condition. Association between variables and diagnostic delay were analyzed using the Student's t-test (significance p < 0.05). RESULTS: Eighty-six patients (43 from private and 43 from public centres) were enrolled. The mean diagnostic delay was 10 months. No statistically significant associations were observed between diagnostic delay and age, gender, symptom presence, smoking habits, or definitive diagnosis. In contrast, diagnostic delay was significantly higher in private oral health centre patients (11.19 months vs. 8.75 months p < 0.05) and in patients living more than 34 km from the diagnostic centre (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Proximity to specialized diagnostic centres and the type of centre (public vs. private) were identified as determinants to reduce diagnostic delay in patients with desquamative gingivitis.