The inside of your mouth in relation to cheek, lips, tongue and palate is lined by specialized covering known as mucosa which may be keratinised or non-keratinised depending upon its location. Various pathologies may affect that mucosa

• Reddish Patch – Erythroplakia
• White Patch – Leukoplakia, Lichen planus
• Black Patch – Melanoplakia
• Burning sensation in the mouth
• Stiffness on the mouth causing difficulty on mouth opening
• Ulcer or vesicle on cheek/tongue

All there pathologies may be benign or cancerous depending on their presentation and a BIOPSY may be required to arrive at a diagnosis.

» Biopsy
This is a diagnostic cum therapeutic procedure wherein a small section of the involved area is excised by the surgeon under local anesthesia to determine the microscopic details by an oral pathologist which aid in further management.

» Brush Biospy
This is a preferred screening tool for oral cancer which enables a transepithelial capture of cells. Here a brush is rotated against the tissues until slight bleeding is obtained indicating that brush has reached basement membrare. The aggregate on the brush is then analyzed microscopically.

» Oral Sub Mucous Fibrosis
This condition requires special mention because it is most prevalent in Indian subcontinent. Here there is stiffening and thickening of the lining of the mouth with a blanching appearance and occurs due to prolonged pan and tobacco chewing resulting in complete restriction of mouth opening and burning sensation in the mouth and in advanced stage may lead to ORAL CANCER. This can be treated in early stages by patient counseling and surgical intervention may be required to achieve mouth opening.

» Cysts and Tumors of The Jaw Bone
A variety of tumors and Cysts occur in the mouth within the jaw bone which may result in obvious swelling of the jaw bone. In the initial stages it may be managed by conservative surgery but in advanced cases and in some specific tumors radical surgery like removal of a segment of jaw or even half of jaw may be required. Reconstruction may be done by a reconstruction plate along with bone taken from patients other sites like hip or leg. This may require several days of hospitalization.