Q: Do benign tumors ever occur in the mouth?
A: Most tumors of the tongue and mouth are benign. The most common of them is called an irritation fibroma, which is caused by lip, cheek or tongue sucking or biting. It appears as a smooth-surfaced, pink mushroom-shaped growth on a stalk attached to the lip, tongue or inner cheek. A fibroma will commonly appear opposite a small space in the teeth through which tissue can be sucked. The papilloma is also mushroom-shaped but has an irregular, white surface.
While the fibroma is created by an action, like sucking on a cheek, the papilloma is a benign growth that occurs on its own. Removing these growths by excision is the usual course of treatment. As a rule, they don't require a biopsy. If the cause of development is indeed a space between teeth, that can be addressed with an appliance like a small fixed bridge. Though fibroma and papilloma are benign, you should visit a dentist whenever you notice any sort of unusual developments in your mouth.
|
Top
