HJAR Mar/Apr 2025

52 MAR / APR 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ORAL HEALTH DIALOGUE COLUMN ORAL HEALTH lesions is the need to distinguish it from an oral malignancy, which can present in many different forms and occur in any area of the oral cavity. Oral lesions and abnormalities can be congenital or acquired. If acquired, they are further distinguished by being traumatic, infective, inflammatory, neoplastic, cys- tic, autoimmune, allergic, vascular, endo- crine, degenerative, idiopathic, nutritional or pigmented. 3 Oral lesions can also be a manifestation of a systemic disease. An intraoral lesion can be the initial clinical presentation of a serious health condition. Asystemic illness can often have a direct effect on the status of the oral cavity. Conversely, oral conditions, such as periodontal disease, can impact the overall health of patients with a systemic illness. 4 Aphthous ulcer The most common oral lesion occurring in the mouth, affecting 20% of the popula- tion, is the recurrent aphthous ulcer. 5 These ulcers occur on movable mucosa and not on the hard palate or gingiva. They are an- noying, painful, and range in size. The minor aphthae, small lesions, are less than 1 cm and persist for seven to 14 days. The major aphthae, large lesions, are extremely painful, ORAL CANCER is the sixth most common cancer in the world and accounts for 3% of all cancers diagnosed each year in the U.S. 1,2 Precancerous and cancerous lesions are the most significant and the ones that should be diagnosed without delay. The important takeaway is to know the signs, symptoms, and presentations for typical lesions to de- velop a differential diagnosis. Hyperkeratotic or erythematous lesions account for most early cancers. Early detection and diagnosis are essential, along with good knowledge of lesion presen- tation, duration, known risk factors, habits, traumatic injury, medical systemic issues, and a thorough oral examination. Unfortunately, the malignancy is often painless until it has progressed and metastasized. The biggest challenge in diagnosing any of these oral Common Oral Lesions: WHEN TOGET CONCERNED There are many types of oral lesions or abnormalities that can occur in the oral cavity. Some are normal variants while others are pathological. The question is, when should you be concerned?