Management of oral melanin pigmentation.

Melanin is an endogenous pigment responsible for human tissue coloration of the skin, mucosa, hair, eyes and parts of the brain. In the skin, its function is protection from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Its purpose in oral tissues has not yet been determined. Oral pigmentation could be an esthetic issue for some patients, particularly when it is located on the anterior labial gingiva in individuals with a high smile line. This article presents and describes several different approaches for the management of oral melanin pigmentation.