Oral diseases and their treatments

The importance of the mouth

The mouth is one of the most important parts of your body. It fulfills many different functions such as consuming food and liquids, inhaling and exhaling air, speaking... Any problem that affects the mouth can make it difficult to eat, drink or even smile, so you must pay attention to any ailment that occurs.

Herpes

Herpes on the lips and face can cause both social restriction and aesthetic discomfort. In our daily life, we often encounter herpes in ourselves or around us. Once the Herpes Simplex Type-1 virus enters the body, it activates in cases where our immune system is weakened for any reason and mostly focuses on the lips or face area.

In some people, it appears due to certain triggers and reduces the quality of life. In later periods, it can concentrate on nerve endings in different parts of the body and cause a painful disease called shingles. Although medication containing acyclovir are used for its treatment, it develops immunity after a certain period of time.

Herpes Treatment with Laser

Nd:YAG and Diode Lasers have been used successfully in our clinic and laser treatment centers for many years in the treatment of herpes.

When detected at an early stage, herpes does not occur at all following laser use. If detected during fluid collection, the pain is relieved, and the treatment ends with a rapid recovery compared to cases where laser is not used. Herpes does not occur again in the same area, and the frequency of herpes occurrence in other areas decreases after each application. The laser energy stretches the collagen fibers in the soft tissues with the thermal effect and tightens the tissue.

Aphta

Aphthous lesions, commonly known as mouth sores, are actually mouth ulcers characterized by a painful and burning sensation. The most common forms are minor aphthae smaller than 1 cm that are white inside. They usually go away on their own within 2 weeks. Biopsy is useful for lesions lasting longer than 4-6 weeks. Laser therapy gives significantly more effective results than drug therapy in painful lesions. While pain relievers and corticosteroid medications are used in traditional treatment, nowadays faster and more effective results are obtained with Nd:YAG laser treatments.

lichen planus

This is characterized by white spots in the form of scales in the mouth, mostly on both sides of the cheeks. Lichen Planus is a chronic skin condition.

Dentist and dermatologist opinions should be evaluated together, as when ignored, it can turn into malignant lesions. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is very important. In this skin condition, which is treated with corticosteroid-derived creams in the early period, treatment support can be provided with laser to reduce the symptoms.

Hemangioma vessels

Especially in the visible part of the lip, hemangiomas can negatively affect the person aesthetically. These lesions can be easily treated with laser. They are benign vascular tumors that occur because of vascular condensation anomalies that can be seen almost everywhere in the body. Laser treatment is very easy. The laser neutralizes the vessels forming the hemangioma and prevents blood accumulation. Afterwards, it either disappears on its own or the crust tissue in the area is removed with the Er:YAG laser.

Fungal disease in mouth

Mouth fungus, also known as candida, occurs in young children and infants and is sometimes seen in adults. These are white-colored lesions that occur on the inner surfaces of the cheeks, gingiva and tongue edges. Candida which normally has a mild course, is more serious in people with a weak immune system. Dry mouth, poorly made dentures and some medications can cause this fungal infections. Prosthesis-related fungal infections are common, especially in elderly individuals. Early diagnosis of drug-treated fungal disease is important.

oral cancer

Oral cancers are cancers seen both inside the oral cavity and in the region called the oropharynx, which is located behind the mouth. These cancers can be located in the tongue, teeth, gums, bones, oropharynx, behind the throat and tongue, as well as on the lips.

Who gets oral cancer most often?

The majority of oral cancers occur over the age of 45 and are twice as likely to occur in men than in women.

What are the symptoms of oral cancers?

Sometimes symptoms are very mild do not reduce the quality of life. In advanced cases, the shape and feeling of something unfamiliar in their mouth is the first sign.

Particular attention should be paid to the following symptoms:

Bitter or indescribable pain in the mouth.
White or red areas on the gums, tongue, in or around the mouth.
Sensitive, irritated, raised or thickened areas in the mouth that can be felt with the tongue.
Recurrent bleeding and non-healing sores in the mouth or throat.
Hoarseness in the voice or feeling of an object in the throat that cannot be swallowed.
Chewing and swallowing difficulties.
Difficulty in tongue and jaw movements.
Loss of feeling, numbness in the tongue or other parts of the mouth.
Swelling in the lower or upper jaw and, as a result, deterioration of the harmony of the existing prosthesis.
When persistent white patches (leukoplakia) or red patches (erythroplakia) appear in the mouth, they should be brought to the attention of physicians or dentists, as these may be confirmed as pre-cancer conditions (conditions that are likely to result in cancer later on).

Although early diagnosis is very important in the treatment of this disease, it can often be diagnosed in regular dental examinations.

Frequently asked questions about oral cancer

Is there pain in oral cancers?

Oral cancer lesions are painless in the initial period and therefore can be neglected. As the cancer progresses and destroys healthy oral tissues, pain begins. It can be difficult for a person to notice oral cancer. It is extremely important to go to the dentist for the slightest change for early diagnosis. In addition, the habit of going to the dentist regularly plays an important role in early diagnosis. A developing tumor may not cause pain but may spread and form ulcers that can cause bleeding. Tongue cancer is often painful and causes the tongue to become abnormally stiff and inflexible. There may be a feeling of numbness with difficulty speaking or swallowing properly.

What causes oral cancers?

The exact cause of oral cancer is not known exactly. However, it is known that factors such as tobacco products, alcohol, and exposure to excessive sunlight, especially in the extra-oral areas (such as the lips), increase the risk of cancer. Genetic predisposition is also among the risk factors for oral cancers.

What can be done to reduce the risk of oral cancer?

Do not use tobacco products such as cigarettes, pipes, and do not chew tobacco.
If you drink alcohol, don't overdo it.
The risk of oral cancer in people who use both alcohol and tobacco products is 15 times higher than people who do not use alcohol and tobacco products.
Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (research suggests that this type of diet may reduce the risk of oral cancer).

What happens if oral cancers are not treated?

If oral cancers are not diagnosed and treated in the early stage, they can spread and cause constant pain, loss of function, facial and mouth deformities that cannot be corrected after treatment, and even death. Visiting the dentist at regular intervals is also important in terms of early diagnosis of oral cancers.

What are the types of oral cancer?

The diseases that cause cancer are very diverse. Although some of these are not cancerous cells in the beginning, they are cells that have a high risk of turning into cancerous cells over time. Some are cancer types that contain cancerous cells themselves. Another is the cancers that we call secondary that occur in the mouth when cancer is seen elsewhere in the body. The most common of these is squamous cell or epidermoid carcinoma with a rate of 90%.

What is the relationship between smoking and oral cancers?

Cigarette, pipe or cigar smoking increases the likelihood of cancer of the throat, mouth, larynx and esophagus. With the heat and chemicals contained in cigarettes, it causes an increase in the structure that cause hardening of the oral tissue called keratin in the mouth. This structure can change over time and cause oral cancer. It has been determined that chronic smokeless tobacco users who chew tobacco have a 50 times higher risk of developing oral cancer than non-users.

What is the relationship between oral cancer and alcohol?

Chronic and/or heavy alcohol use is another factor that increases the risk of cancer. The combination of the oral mucosa, which is constantly in contact with alcohol, and cigarette smoke is an important cause of oral cancer.

What is the relationship between oral care and oral cancers?

Oral care is undoubtedly an indispensable element for our general health. Good care is possible with brushing, dental floss and mouthwash after brushing. The risk factor increases significantly in individuals who have poor oral hygiene to cause tooth loss, compared to individuals with good oral hygiene.

How do cancers in the tongue show symptoms?

A tumor in the tongue may not cause pain but may spread to form ulcers that can cause bleeding. Tongue cancer is often painful and causes the tongue to become abnormally stiff and inflexible. Difficulty speaking or swallowing properly, and a feeling of numbness may occur.

What methods are used in the diagnosis of oral cancers?

First, a detailed oral examination is performed. The diagnosis can then be confirmed by a small biopsy (taking a small amount of tissue for analysis) if deemed necessary. X-rays and CT scans can also be helpful to determine the extent of the cancer and to find out if it has affected bones or other areas.

What is the success rate in the treatment of oral cancers?

Oral cancer is most likely to be cured when treated early. The malignant lesion of 1 cm in diameter and 1 g in weight, which is considered as an early diagnosis, contains 1 billion cells, and this small mass has formed between 2.5 and 8.5 years on average. Therefore, diagnosing lesions below 1 cm is of great importance in terms of treatment. After surgery, it may be necessary to perform some reconstructive surgery on soft tissue or skin or replace bones with prostheses. Patients whose mouths are changed in treatment may need to receive restorative dentistry, speech therapy and nutritional counseling services. Psychological support may also be necessary for people whose speech or appearance has changed after treatment, or for those who find the treatment particularly stressful.

How is lip cancer treated?

It usually occurs on the lower lip. It is more common in people of light color. The causes of lip cancers are often cigarettes, pipes and sun rays. Crust formation is observed on the initially hardened surface. In the early period, surgery and radiotherapy provide successful results.

Do you have any questions or want to start your treatment?