A 16-year-old patient presents with multiple, red-bordered white lesions scattered throughout his oral cavity. He said he had his wisdom teeth removed five days ago, and now he can't eat and it hurts to swallow. Learn more from the clinical exam and photos for this month's oral pathology case.
Editor's note: This article first appeared in DE's Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS, the clinical specialties newsletter created just for dentists. Browse our newsletter archives to find out more and subscribe here.
Presentation and chief complaint
A healthy 16-year-old male presents with this chief complaint:
I got my wisdom teeth out five days ago, and I can’t eat or swallow; it hurts. I have bumps all over in my mouth.
Clinical exam
Clinical assessment reveals multiple white lesions with red borders salt-and-peppered in a generalized fashion throughout the entire oral cavity. The gum tissues are swollen and any light palpation/touching of the lesions results in bleeding and pain. See clinical photos below.
What are your differentials and recommended course of treatment for this patient? Send your answers to [email protected]. Next month, we will present the final diagnosis and recommended treatment for this case.
Editor's note: This article first appeared in DE's Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS, the clinical specialties newsletter created just for dentists. Browse our newsletter archives to find out more and subscribe here.