Hi just joined and have a question.
Went to the dentist today to have my teeth checked and cleaned.She went to get the dentist to check out a white area on my gum. I have no teeth where it's at. It would be where a tooth would be. He wants me to get it checked out by a oral surgeon. :ashamed: On the referral form it says:
Ridge #14,15 Area Whiteish area-Linear
Appox 12mm in length
Just was wondering what this could be. ..he said it might just be like a callas,but wants it checked out.
But I'm leaving for Florida on Sept 16th and will be back on Oct 10,will be gone about a month,Question...do you think I can wait to have this checked or should I do it right away and not go to Florida.Would that month make a difference?
Well be looking for anyone's reply :help:
Thanks (oh...and I am a smoker)but not for long.

Hello Evelyn

Your white lesion could be related to Oral Frictional Keratosis, a thickening of the epithelium ( like a callus on the skin of the palms of a manual worker) related to food friction during chewing. This is often seen in posterior edentate areas opposite normal teeth.

Sometimes there is no known cause and it is labelled 'leukoplakia'. Leukoplakia has been defined as a whitish plaque that cannot be characterized clinically or pathologically as any other disease and is not associated with any physical or chemical causative agent except the use of tobacco. Patients diagnosed with idiopathic leukoplakia have the highest risk of developing cancer.

In studies of these patients, 4-17% had malignant transformation of the lesions in less than 20 years. Risk of developing malignancies at lesion sites is 5 times greater in patients with leukoplakia than without leukoplakia. The location of the leukoplakia is significant in terms of the degree of dysplastic or malignant changes, with the floor of the mouth and the ventral surface of the tongue being especially high risk. Although leukoplakia is more common in men than in women, women with leukoplakia have a higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma .

Professor Scully's article on Oral Leukoplakia discusses risk, treatment and measures that might reduce the risk.

The white patch (leukoplakia) may need a biopsy or watchful observation - it is most times not cancerous. From the information I have given and your reading of the articles linked to, you might get an idea of which it is. If it is not hurting you or increasing in size, etc don't worry needlessly, but your dentist is concerned enough to get an appointment with an oral & maxillofacial surgeon for advice for it is better to get a proper diagnosis early - you will sleep better!

Let us hope all turns out well. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Thanks Dr Vinod for the fast reply. I did get and appointment for Monday to see a oral surgeon before I leave for Florida.
I well let you know how it turns out.
Again that's for the fast reply...you put my mind at ease a little,but still nervous about it.
Thanks again and you'll be hearing from me,with I hope good news.