Although most changes to the oral mucosa are benign, many can cause considerable discomfort and have a negative impact on quality of life. Every consultation begins with a thorough medical history. Suspicious changes in the mucous membrane are photodocumented to enable an assessment of the progress. In many cases, a largely painless test biopsy under local anesthesia is indicated to confirm the diagnosis. Targeted therapy can then be initiated on the basis of the histopathological findings. As some oral mucosal diseases also manifest themselves in skin areas of other parts of the body, an interdisciplinary clarification with the dermatology clinic may be indicated.
Depending on the findings, a recall, i.e. a regular follow-up check, is often indicated. If it is a malignant change, the patient is immediately referred to the consultation for head and neck tumors and reconstructive surgery at the Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for immediate initiation of the necessary treatment, as early detection in particular has a high prognostic relevance and a significant influence on the further course of a tumor disease.
