Oral ulceration

Question 1

How to describe an intraoral lesions?

Answer 1

• site
• size
• surface
• consistency
• mobility

Question 2

What does sessile mean?

Answer 2

sitting within the normal tissue

Question 3

What does pedunculate mean?

Answer 3

attached by a narrow pedicle (fibroepithelial polyp)

Question 4

In which patients is atrophic glossitis more likely to be seen?

Answer 4

Patients with iron deficiency anaemia

Question 5

What is an ulcer?

Answer 5

Pathological disintegration of the surface epithelium

Question 6

What does trauma cause?

Answer 6

Abrasion of surface epithelium, can see erythema and inflammation

Question 7

What does inflammation cause?

Answer 7

Surface epithelium breaks down and gets disintegration of surface epithelium.

Question 8

How do ulcers heal?

Answer 8

Epithelial cells spread to cover and stimulate to proliferate and move across underlying tissue and grow from the edges into the centre to heal.

Question 9

What aspects of a patients medical history can make them more likely to have ulceration?

Answer 9

Anaemia
GI disease
Skin disease
Diet
Infections
Medications (dry mouth, chemotherapy)

Question 10

What should you check for intraorally that would give an explanation for a presenting ulcer?

Answer 10

Sharp teeth/bone
Dry mouth
Denture clasps that are sharp