Suggest Treatment For A Painless Patch On The Gums

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul 2015

Question: I have a painless patch on my gum that was discovered at my 6 month oral checkup. They told me to come back in a month to see if it went away. I thinking the worst.

Attached is a picture.

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Kumar T S (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
frictional keratosis, leukoplakia, parulis, radiograph, biopsy

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query, I have gone through your query and the images you have uploaded.
As far as the white painless patch over the gums is concerned, i have two possibilities.
It can be a frictional keratosis (secondary to chronic irritation by tooth brush) or leukoplakia(if you have the habit of smoking).
The other possible cause can be a healed sinus tract (Parulis) secondary to abscess formation. Nothing to be panic, consult a good oral physician and get it evaluated. You need to take a radiograph to rule out any tooth or gum infection. Observe the lesion for few weeks, if it is increasing in size, then get an excisional biopsy done by removing the lesion completely. The biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.
I hope I have answered your query, if any queries are there, then reply me back.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Mahesh Kumar T S (15 minutes later)

So this doesnt jump out as oral cancer?

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Kumar T S (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Benign lesion, biopsy

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
No it will not become cancerous lesion. it looks like a benign lesion. So get it biopsies to confirm the diagnosis.
I hope I have answered your query. Take care.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar