mouth and dental disorders
Mouth Growths
Evaluation of Mouth Growths
The following information can help people decide when a doctor's evaluation is needed and help them know what to expect during the evaluation. Certain symptoms and characteristics are cause for concern. They include Weight loss Firm lump in the neck A sore throat that will not go away Difficulty swallowing People with a mouth growth that does not go away in a week or two should see their doctor or dentist when convenient. Warning signs suggest a higher risk of cancer, and people with warning signs (particularly those who use tobacco) should not put off being evaluated. Because oral cancer often causes no symptoms early on, it is important for people to have a yearly examination of the mouth. Such an examination can be done during an annual dental check-up. Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history. Doctors then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination can help suggest a cause of the mouth growth. Doctors ask people about how long the growth has been present, whether it is painful, and whether there was any injury to the area (for example, biting a cheek or scraping by a sharp tooth edge or dental restoration). Other things they ask about include The amount and duration of use of alcohol and tobacco ), including use of antibiotics and a history of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or Whether the person has lost weight or been feeling generally ill How frequently the person has oral sex and the number of sexual contacts with whom they engage in oral sex The physical examination focuses on the mouth and neck. Doctors look carefully at all areas of the mouth and throat, including under the tongue. They feel the sides of the neck for swollen glands (lymph nodes), which indicate possible cancer or chronic infection. If a growth has the appearance of thrush, doctors examine scrapings under a microscope. For other growths that have lasted longer than a few weeks, most doctors recommend removing all or part of the growth for examination in a laboratory (biopsy). Biopsy is often necessary to make sure a growth is noncancerous. 