Academy of Dental Knowledge

The diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome is by the process of exclusion. When we can not find the reason for burning mouth symptoms, the disease is diagnosed as burning mouth syndrome. The characteristic symptom is a burning or scalding sensation of the tongue. Less frequently, we can find the coincident symptoms in hard palate and mucosal aspect of the lips. Additionally, patient may complain of a sensation of dry mouth with increased thirst, change in taste, such as a bitter or metallic taste or loss of taste. There may also be tingling, stinging or numbness in the mouth. These symptoms can cause little inconvenience in mild cases. In severe cases, they can prevent patients from conducting normal daily activities. It has been found that in extreme cases, patients may show suicidal tendencies.  In most cases, the burning sensation starts mild in the morning and increases in intensity as the day progresses. This type of presentation has the best prognosis. You may find other signs a...

Oral Lichen Planus on left mucosa [1] Question: What is oral lichen planus? Answer: It is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes, characterised by purplish, itchy, flat  eruptions. Question: How common is the condition? Answer: It is a common condition in India. Its cases are reported more than 10 lakh per year in India.   Question: How much time does it need for recovery? Answer: It can last several years or remains lifelong. Question: Is the condition treatable?   Answer: Treatments can help manage conditions. There is no known cure present.     Question: Does diagnosis require lab tests or imaging?   Answer: Its diagnosis rarely requires lab tests or imaging.         Condition Highlights   It commonly occurs for ages 35-50.   It is more common in females.   Family history may increase likelihood to occur.    

Oral mucosal lesions are common. They can be due to physiological changes or a local disease. They may also be an oral manifestation of a skin condition, an adverse drug reaction or systemic disease, for example, gastrointestinal disease. To manage an oral mucosal disease successfully one requires an accurate diagnosis. Now the question arises, how will we get an accurate diagnosis? The correct answer is, by a thorough assessment of oral mucosa for a lesion. Assessment for an oral mucosal lesion involves taking a full patient history. This includes a medication history too. Next we need to perform a thorough extraoral and intraoral examination and use diagnostic investigations where appropriate. One should have a high index of suspicion for oral cancer. To recognise oral cancer one should be familiar with the risk factors for oral cancer . You can see the “ Oral Cancer ” topic to know about risk factors for oral cancer. You should also thoroughly know the red flag features of oral canc...

Acute suppurative sialadenitis (including parotitis) is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus. But sometimes it may be polymicrobial in adults. In acute suppurative sialadenitis, the glands are enlarged, often hot and tense, and pus may be expressed from the Stensen's duct. The patient is usually systemically unwell, dehydrated and has difficulty swallowing. Intraoral view of purulence emanating from the parotid duct orifice in a patient with acute suppurative parotitis [1].   Management Management of acute suppurative sialadenitis includes  urgent referral to hospital for surgical review rehydration  culture and susceptibility testing of blood samples if the swelling is fluctuant, intraductal or surgical drainage; send pus for culture and susceptibility testing  antibiotic therapy, given intravenously initially then orally once the patient can swallow.  If S. aureus is identified in a blood culture, treat as S. aureus bacteraemia. If the results of blood cult...