Leukoplakia

• Nutritional deficiency such as deficiency of vitamin B complex.
Various other factors such as poor oral hygiene immunological disorders infections with herpes virusand candida etc. can also contribute in the aetiology.
Management :
1. A biopsy is a must to find out the degree of dysplasia
2. Elimimation of local irritants
3. Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
4. Treating the underlying systemic problem.
5. Management of super added candidal infection by antifungal therapy.
6. Vitamin A and E preparations have been shown to regress the lession of leukoplakia. Retinoids or vitamin A analogues have been shown to reverse the leukoplakic change.
7. Surgical excision
8. Cryosurgery
9. Laser surgery is being evaluated as a possible therapeutic measure.
10. Patient should also be given symptomatic relief by topical anaesthetising preparations, if burning sensation or pain is reported.
11. Nutritional suppliments.

Leukoplakia
Definition : Leukoplakia is a clinical term and is defined as a white patch or plaque which can not be removed by rubbing or scraping and cannot be characterized clinically or pathologically as any other disease. Use of tobacco for smoking of chewing tobacco is commonly chewn as a batel quid: a leaf of the betal nut, nine piper betle, areca nut, slaked lime and tobacco • Alcohol • Chronic irritation resulting from sharp margins of teeth of sharp edges of prostheses.
• Actinic radiation • Syphilis • Oral candidiasis • Electrogalvanic effects
• Nutritional deficiency such as deficiency of vitamin B complex. Various other factors such as poor oral hygiene immunological disorders infections with herpes virusand candida etc. can also contribute in the aetiology. Management : 1. A biopsy is a must to find out the degree of dysplasia 2. Elimimation of local irritants 3. Avoiding tobacco and alcohol 4. Treating the underlying systemic problem. 5. Management of super added candidal infection by antifungal therapy. 6. Vitamin A and E preparations have been shown to regress the lession of leukoplakia. Retinoids or vitamin A analogues have been shown to reverse the leukoplakic change. 7. Surgical excision 8. Cryosurgery 9. Laser surgery is being evaluated as a possible therapeutic measure. 10. Patient should also be given symptomatic relief by topical anaesthetising preparations, if burning sensation or pain is reported. 11. Nutritional suppliments.