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ABSTRACT:
Leukoplakia is a clinical description that is used based on the histological information of the lesion. Its potential for malignant transformation makes such lesion very important for early diagnosis and treatment. Usually associated with mechanical or chemical irritant like tobacco, it presents a very wide clinical picture among all white lesions. It may look an innocuous surface discoloration or erythema of the mucosa while in some cases it may be aggressive with denuded mucous membranes. This article presents a case of both such lesions in one patient, on either side of buccal mucosa who wanted to get a maxillary lateral incisor restored with a crown after endodontic treatment. After histopathological diagnosis of both lesions, it was decided to progress with dental treatment and patient was advised for complete and definite cessation of tobacco chewing. The maxillary lateral incisor was first built with cast post core following which a metal ceramic restoration was given.
Keywords: fiber post, dowel, erythroplakia, white lesions, premalignant lesions
INTRODUCTION
Dentists have an important role to play in overall health rather than just oral health of an individual. Both dental specialists and general practitioners must be able to recognize diseases that may be either as a result of local influence or due to systemic influence. 1 Around the sixteenth century, Europe was introduced to tobacco products by Spanish and Portugese men. 2 tobacco has many forms and ways of consumption. Tobacco chewing has been associated with many different types of oral carcinoma, among which leukoplakia, which is a premalignant lesion occurs mainly in middle and later life. 3 Oral carcinomas are known to have serious psychological and social implications since disfigurement and loss of important functions like phonetics, esthetics and taste are also affected or lost. 4 In certain cases, facial disfigurement has been seen to result in what is so called 'social death' of an individual. 5 Early diagnosis and treatment is seen to result in 85 percent or better cure rate. 6 It is predominantly a white lesion which should be differentiated from other benign, premalignant or malignant white lesions. 7,8
Loss of tooth structure and its subsequent replacement is essential for restoring the normal functions of the oral cavity. It becomes more important when anterior teeth are...