Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

S. R. Priyanka ¹, M. Arvind ²

Affiliations
1 Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN
2 Professor & Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN

Abstract

Accurate diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases is an essential component of a comprehensive oral care practice. Accurate diagnosis also helps formulate the appropriate treatment plan and helps to avoid further complications from inadequate treatment and to avoid adverse effects from treatment that is not necessary for the particular patient. Obtaining an oral biopsy allows the clinician to diagnose many precancerous conditions and ensure early treatment. Biopsy may be the gold standard for final tissue diagnosis but any invasive procedure comes with its own risks and side effects. When a clinician is faced with a patient with signs and symptoms that are suggestive, but not diagnostic of a disease, he/she has the responsibility to decide between the option to treat empirically or not to treat or to perform further diagnostic tests. This paper aims to review the basic indications and contraindications of performing an oral tissue biopsy and to identify different oral mucosal lesions that may benefit from empirical therapy better than a biopsy in the early stages. Knowledge of these lesions will help the clinician avoid the undesirable outcomes that may be associated with an oral biopsy.

Keywords

Biopsy, Oral Lesions, Decision Analysis, Oral Mucosa, Oral Medicine.

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S. R. Priyanka ¹, M. Arvind ²

Affiliations
1 Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN
2 Professor & Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN

Abstract

Over 15% of the world’s population has some form of disability with 110-190 million people experiencing functional difficulties, which includes people with physical, sensory, intellectual, medical, mental or social impairments. WHO has emphasized the need for oral health care in these patients as they generally have greater levels of oral disease. Poor oral health can complicate the underlying systemic condition and cause deterioration of general health. Dental treatment of people who are medically compromised, disabled or older poses challenges as they might require multiple interventions and are less likely to receive adequate care compared to their apparently normal counterparts. The solution is to have a speciality designed specifically to treat these patients by training professionals in treatment of patients with special needs. Oral Medicine is the speciality concerned with dental and “medical” related disorders of the oro-facial region, including oral manifestations of systemic disease and management of medically complex patients. One of the competencies of an Oral Medicine graduate is the ability to effectively manage patients with medically complex conditions and special needs. Oral Medicine specialists may be considered the best choice for integration with the field of Special Care Dentistry as they have knowledge on medical diseases and their effect on oral health. This paper highlights the need for Special Care Dentistry in the Oral Medicine Curriculum and why Oral physicians are best suited for provision of dental care in this population.

Keywords

Special Care Dentistry, Oral Medicine, Oral Physician, Special Needs, Medically Compromised.

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