HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

DR SANJAY RAMANI EXPLAINS WHAT "ORAL POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT DISORDERS" ARE AND HOW TO BEST IDENTIFY THEM SO YOU CAN GET THE HELP YOU NEED IN TIME

- DR SANJAY RAMANI

Have you ever noticed a white/red ulcer or patch in your mouth that doesn't go away? Or a tiny raised swelling in your mouth that doesn't hurt but doesn't heal either? Fret not, since these might be what we dental clinicians call Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs). OPMDS are mostly harmless lesions which could appear in the mouth in different sizes and shapes and for a variety of reasons. The obvious first concern one could have when observing such a lesion in their own mouth is whether it is a form of cancer. Looking this up online will only lead to a confirmation of the worst-case scenario in our heads.