Geographic Tongue

Geographic tongue is a map-like appearance of your tongue due to irregular patches on its surface.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The specific cause of geographic tongue is unknown, although vitamin B deficiency may be involved. Other causes may include irritation from hot or spicy foods, or alcohol. The condition appears to be less common in smokers.
The pattern on the surface of the tongue may change very rapidly. This pattern change occurs when there is a loss of the tiny, finger-like projections, called papillae, on the tongue's surface. This makes areas of the tongue flat. These areas are said to be "denuded." Denuded areas may persist for more than a month.

Symptoms

• Map-like appearance to the surface of the tongue
• Patches that move from day to day
• Smooth, red patches and sores (lesions) on the tongue
• Soreness and burning pain (in some cases)

Signs and tests

Your doctor will usually diagnose this condition by examining your tongue. Tests are usually not needed.

Treatment

No treatment is needed, but antihistamine gel or steroid mouth rinses may help with discomfort.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Carcinoma of the lips is the most common malignant tumor of the oral cavity. In a large review of 1252 patients, 96.7% were found in males and 95.6 in the lower lip. So don't wait call today to have an oral cancer screening by the staff at hartford dental.




Source: Lin B, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lower Lip, Ontario Dentist, June 2011, Vol 101, No 6, pg 59-62.

You may have a tattoo that you dont know about!

Amalgam tattoos are commonly seen in dentistry.
The amalgam tattoo is a benign discoloration of the mouth membrane resulting from amalgam particles falling into small, open wounds created during dental treatment or by trauma shortly after a dental treatment, when small, fresh amalgam particles still cling to the mucosa.  Foreign particles may be large enough to be seen on x-rays and occasionally the tattoo is seen to expand over time as inflammatory cells beneath the membrane try to "clean up" the area.  No treatment is needed, but some persons may be intolerant to one or more components of the tattoo, which usually consists of mercury, silver and copper. 

Now you may be able to tell people you have a secret little tattoo!

Meet our team at HDA!