Tuberculosis - A common disease with uncommon oral features Report of two cases with a detailed review of literature

Tuberculosis is described as “king of diseases” in the Vedas and has been mentioned by Sushruta and Chakra in 600 B.C. Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease of worldwide prevalence, caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. The primary site of infection is usually the lungs, although it can affect any part of the body, including the oral cavity. Although oral manifestations of tuberculosis are rare, clinicians should be aware of their possible occurrence in their patient population in the form of ulcer, granulomas, involvement of the salivary glands and temporomandibular joints, osteomyelitis, desquamative gingivitis and tubeculous lymphadenitis. Such awareness can aid in diagnosing tuberculosis at an early stage, thereby preventing systemic complications and potential contaminations. This paper deals with two cases of tuberculosis diagnosed on the basis of oral manifestations, thereby emphasizing the importance of the dentist’s role in diagnosis of a multisystemic disorder. Keywords— Tuberculosis, Oral manifestations, chronic granulomatous disease