Surgery and radiation are the only definitive treatment modalities for both early and locally advanced mouth cancer. Surgical resection, wherein the tumour is completely removed with uninvolved...

Now recognized as infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum and known for centuries, a syphilis epidemic broke out among the soldiers of Charles VIII of France. In 1495 he invaded Naples, and by...

Chlorhexidine is a widely used antiseptic with which all dental practitioners are familiar. It has been extensively used in dentistry, most frequently for the control of dental plaque and reduction of...

Coping with a diagnosis of cancer, both practically and emotionally, is taxing for all concerned. Patients are likely to feel very upset, frightened, confused and out of control. They need support. It...

Generally speaking, the earlier a cancer is found and treated, the better the outcome is likely to be with lesser adverse treatment sequelae. In general, cancer prognosis decreases with advanced...

A 68-year-old male attended the Oral Medicine Department of the Liverpool University Dental Hospital. The patient had been referred by his GDP regarding ‘soreness of the gums and roof of mouth’..

Clinical diagnosis of an early cancer can be quite straightforward if the clinician has adequate level of awareness and suspicion, but potentally malignant disorders (PMDs) that are likely to...

A 45-year-old female presented to her general dental practitioner for routine dental care. She had rushed to the appointment and presented to her dentist with distinctly demarcated unilateral facial...

Some mouth cancers are preceded by clinically obvious potentially malignant disorders (PMDs). There is a range of PMDs known but the most important recognized are erythroplakia (erythroplasia),...

A 61-year-old carpenter was referred to the oral and maxillofacial department by his GDP in March 2011 regarding an asymptomatic ‘white patch’ on the hard palate. Otherwise unaware of the lesion or...

The cause of cancer in most people is still unknown but risk depends on a combination of genes, environment and aspects of our lives (Article 1). It is impossible to control some mouth cancer risk...

Alcohol is a depressant. A small amount depresses anxiety and inhibitions and can make the user feel sociable and talkative; too much and a hangover may result, and the person may not even remember...

BCC is the most common type of skin cancer on the sun-exposed areas of face, head and neck. It accounts for about 75% of non-melanoma skin cancers.1,2 BCC presents as an epidermal neoplasm; a...

TMD may affect up to a third of the population, however, the majority of patients do not seek help for their symptoms.1 The prevalence of pain-related TMD is seen to be higher in females,3,4 however,...

A diagnosis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is usually reached following a thorough clinical history (Table 1), together with the physical appearance of the ulcer, if present at the time of...