International Journal of Dental Sciences and Research, 2014, Vol. 2, No. 1, 9-11
Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ijdsr/2/1/3
© Science and Education Publishing
DOI:10.12691/ijdsr-2-1-3
Management of Unhealing Ulcers on Bilateral Borders of
the Tongue
Asaad Javaid Mirza
1,*
, Musa Khalil Alfadaleh
1
, Maaz Asad
2
1
Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Almajmmah University, Alzulfi, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Restorative Dentistry, university of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
*Corresponding author: asaadjmirza@gmail.com
Received December 25, 2013; Revised January 03, 2014; Accepted January 16, 2014
Abstract Presence of long standing unhealing ulcer in an oral cavity, not only makes eating and chewing difficult
but puts the patient under tremendous mental stress leading to cancer phobia. This case report describes management
of unusual occurrence of bilateral unhealing ulcers on the tongue of a young lady. The ulcers developed after
insertion of fixed partial dentures four year ago. Despite visiting many physicians, dentists and an ENT specialist,
she didn’t find the relief. Due to long illness, she has become very irritable, anxious and uncooperative. It was
therefore, necessary to treat her in a logical order that her confidence in us is not lost. First of all, to reduce her
anxiety, she was put on 0.25 mg Alprazolam tablets which also helped her in sleeping at night. Repair or
replacement of her previously deteriorated intracoronal restorations was performed next. Finding no relief with this,
a bridge present on right side was removed first. It reduced redness in the ulcer on right side of tongue. The other
bridges present on left side were also removed. The ulcers had become less painful and stopped progressing but not
found healing. Biopsy of the lesion was done which reported as “Pseudoepithliomatous Hyperplasia”. An oral
surgeon was requested to excise the lesion. After excision, both the ulcers healed within two weeks.
Keywords: oral Metal allergy, oral Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, ni cr alloy allergy
Cite This Article: Asaad Javaid Mirza, Musa Khalil Alfadaleh, and Maaz Asad, “Management of Unhealing
Ulcers on Bilateral Borders of the Tongue.” International Journal of Dental Sciences and Research 2, no. 1
(2014): 9-11. doi: 10.12691/ijdsr-2-1-3.
1. Introduction
A 32-year old lady was referred to us with complaint of
inability to eat normal diet due to burning mouth. The
cause of mouth burning was non- healing ulcers present
on lateral border of her tongue for last four years. There
was nothing significant in her medical history. Family
history revealed that she was unmarried living with her
brother as parents had expired. She was under intense
mental stress due to traditional cold-war with brother’s
wife and for not having her own source of income. Owing
to anxiety and mental stress, she used to clench (Bruxism)
her teeth during sleep and while working. She was in the
habit of sucking borders of her tongue to get relief from
burning.
History of present illness showed that she had two
ulcers, one on each side of her tongue. The lesions started
as a small abrasion after having her teeth restored with
several intracoronal and extracoronal restorations four
years ago. The attending dentist prescribed her some gel
for local application when the abrasion was brought to his
notice. The lesion remained unhealed and enlarged in size
with more redness in its base and pain. She then visited
many general practicing dentists but did not get relief. Her
family physician referred her to an ENT specialist who
took a biopsy of the lesions. The histopathologist reported
that they were hyperplastic chronically inflamed ulcers
with presence of fungus thread. The doctor prescribed
some antifungal medicines but of no avail.
Figure 1. Unhealed ulcer on right lateral border of tongue
On intraoral examination, an ulcer measuring 10x8 mm
with red base and white margins was found on the right
lateral border of her tongue (Figure 1). A similar lesion
was present on the left lower border with much smaller
dimension (Figure 2). Caries history was very significant
leading to many restored teeth with amalgam and
composite. Some of the restorations appeared deteriorated