During your routine dental exam, which you should attend at least every six months, Dr. LaFrom thoroughly inspects your oral cavity for signs of abnormalities that may indicate serious issues. The soft tissue that covers the inside of your mouth, called the mucosa, can warn you of the beginning of a pathological process. Normally smooth in appearance and pink in color, when the mucosa’s texture and color change, there is usually cause for concern. The most serious and potentially lethal of these pathological changes is oral cancer, which may or not be painful. Dr. LaFrom explains a few other mucosal changes that should prompt you to see your dentist.
Other Pathological Changes in the Oral Cavity
Oral cancer is a general term and can refer to cancer affecting the jaw, tongue, or lower cheek region. Similarly, non-cancerous cell changes can occur in any area of the mouth, including the tongue and palate. For instance, when the tongue is missing papillae (the small bumps that cover your tongue) in different areas, the condition is known as benign migratory glossitis or erythema migrans. The tongue develops a map-like appearance, which has earned the condition the nickname “geographic tongue.” Defining symptoms include unsightly red patches that look like a rash on or around the sides of the tongue.
Another malady of the tongue is known as hairy tongue. An overgrowth of bacteria or yeast infection of the mouth can lend a hairy and black appearance to the tongue. Hairy tongue can be a result of poor oral hygiene, extensive antibiotic use, or radiation treatments to the head and neck. Depending on the specific case, hairy tongue may or may not need to be treated.
Treatment of Pathological Disease
Most pathological diseases can be uncomfortable, some even disfiguring, but they are usually not life-threatening. Oral cancer, however, is the exception. If oral cancer is diagnosed early, you have about an 80% chance of survival. Diagnosing a pathological disease requires a biopsy sample of the affected area, which must be sent to laboratory specialists to be analyzed. If you notice changes in the landscape of your mouth, schedule an appointment with Dr. LaFrom immediately. To schedule a consultation with Dr. LaFrom, contact our Cupertino dentist office at (408) 996-8595. We serve patients from Saratoga, Campbell, Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Santa Clara County.
