Intra-Oral Cameras – What Can You See? Lesions – Part 3
Basically, a lesion is an area of the body that has suffered damage from an injury or disease, such as a wound, ulcer, abscess, or tumour.
The intra-oral camera can aid with diagnosis. It can keep a record of the lesion to check on its progress, hopefully to full healing. Otherwise the image can be sent to a specialist for an opinion. The images glean from the patient can be used as an education tool for the patient on the causes, treatment and post-operative care of the lesions.
The three photos below are multiple ulcers almost all joined together from the one event. The grey ulcerated lesion shows the pink gum layer (epithelium) destroyed and exposing the next layer on the body the grey fibrous layer (connective tissue).
The cause was a hot runny spicy dressing that was swallowed and ran from the back of the last tooth in the top right jaw, along the cheek, onto the lower jaw and down the throat. Essentially a chemical/heat burn.
Thankfully, after ceasing to use the food dressing, there was no scarring and the gums healed.
Now let’s look at the mouth in regards to causes of lesions.
Dental caries or decay is a lesion where bacteria have damaged the tooth.
Periodontal disease or gum disease through bacteria adhering to the tooth and root surface causing destruction of the bone and ligament.
Trauma to teeth can cause teeth to crack and break. Trauma to the jaws can also cause the bone to fracture.
Wounds to soft tissue such as the tongue, cheek, throat, palate, lip, muscles can be caused by the lesions of the hard tissue like the teeth and roots.
Ulcers are lesions where the surface of the skin or gums is lost exposing the connective tissue layer underneath.
Erosion lesions are where some of the surface layer of the tissue has been lost without exposing the next layer of the body. This even occurs in teeth where gastric reflux causes acid erosion of the surface of the teeth.
Abscesses commonly occur at the ends of the roots, the gums, jaw bone and gums around impacted teeth.
Different Types of Lesions in the Mouth
Some examples of viral infections include Herpes Virus infection, Human Papilloma Virus infection, Coxsackie Virus infection, Mumps, Measles (rubella), and Rubella.
However, the most common viral infection in the mouth is with the Herpes Simplex Type 1. It is estimate that 97% of people have the Herpes Type 1 virus. (Type 2 Herpes virus is found in the genitals).
Different Types of Lesions in the Mouth – Part 2a – Viruses
A parasite is an organism that lives in another organism, called the host, and often harms it. It depends on its host for survival, without which a parasite cannot live, grow and multiply. Many different parasites can affect humans, and they can pass on diseases such as malaria.
Different Types of Lesions in the Mouth – Part 2b – Parasites
Colour changes in the tissues are lesions as well. They can indicate and underlying problem. White patches, called leukoplakia can indicate thickening of the gums or soft tissue layer due to trauma such as cheek biting, irritations or even cancer.
Different Types of Lesions in the Mouth – Part 3 – Autoimmune and Cancer
This is a type of lesion is inflammatory in nature, and it usually affects the top and sides of the tongue. The tongue is covered with very small mushroom shaped raised points called papilla, at the base of which is the taste buds. The Geographic Tongue looks like a map, with the “oceans” containing no papilla and therefore looks smooth or red, if it is inflamed. There is a “coastline” that is a white irregular border along the edge of affected areas of the tongue.
Next in series: Intra-Oral Cameras – What Can You See? More Lesions – Part 4
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Medical Emergencies in the Dental Practice 2024