Diseases of the oral mucosa

Diseases of the oral mucosa : mucosal infections

CHAPTER 15

Few diseases are specific to the oral mucosa:

Mucosal changes can be,either:1-part of an underlying systemic disease,
2-a marker of internal malignancy,
3-or of no significance.
Occasionally , mucosal signs can indicate potentially life-threatening diseases.

The oral mucosa has a limited range of responses to injury

The epithelium may thicken(acanthosis),
thin(atrophy),
proliferate(hyperplasia),
keratinization,
separate or break down to form an ulcer.
This limited range of changes
means that many oral diseases:


APPEAR SIMILAR.

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Aphthous stomatitis, major type. This large, deep ulcer with considerable surrounding erythema has been present for several weeks.
A large traumatic ulcer on the lower lip. Note the colour of the fibrin slough, distinct from the keratin of a white patch, and the well-defined epithelial margin with minimal inflammation.

Many oral diseases are characterized by ULCERS.

An ulcer is a break in the continuity
of the epithelium , exposing the
connective tissue to the oral
environment.
Ulcers may have sharp well-defined margins:

Or ulcers may have ragged margins:

But , all ULCERS are covered by a grey-yellow fibrin SLOUGH:

The slough has a characteristic appearance,and with experience, a dentist can distinguish it from KERATINISATION.

Thank you for your attention