Common Oral Lesions

It’s not unusual for a health care provider to frequently see and treat patients with lesions of the lips, buccal mucosa, tongue or palate. Many of these lesions are readily diagnosed and treated in the outpatient clinic or emergency room. Occasionally, asymptomatic oral lesions are found incidental to an unrelated examination. The possible causes of oral mucosal defects are numerous and include infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, neoplastic disease, local trauma and toxic reactions. Proper identification and treatment of oral lesions, as well as the appropriate referral of patients with lesions suggestive of serious disease or neoplastic processes is essential in the primary care setting.