New Classification System For Fissured Tongue: A Clinical Approach. Fissures in the oral mucosa may be caused by several factors including bacteria, foreign objects, or trauma to the surface of the tongue. Fissures in the oral cavity are common in dentistry and the treatment is often associated with a specific cause. However there is no complete data on relationship, severity, and pattern of fissures with any of these other oral disorders and tongue anomalies.
Fissures in the oral cavity can result in extensive erosion of tissues, increased bleeding, loosening of mucosal lining and even infection. A single case of a single type of a single disease can give rise to a huge number of fissures. It is important for you to recognize the kind of fissure that you have if you want to effectively treat it in order to prevent complications.
Fissures that occur in the middle of the tongue are called as lateral folds. These folds are caused by the continuous expansion and contraction of gums. Other causes may include growth of abnormal bone growth on the lateral folds and trauma to the tongue.
In some cases, there are small tears that occur where the tongue and the teeth meet. These tears are not easy to detect because they can be hard to see as the edges of the dentin often cover the edges of these tiny tears.
The most common cause of a fissure is damage to the tissue and structures around the tongue's surface. For instance, an infection might cause the tongue to split apart or may result from a trauma such as biting the tongue or chewing on something sharp. In addition to these external factors, oral tissues also deteriorate over time and the process of shedding of new tissue causes the tissues to contract.
There are certain types of cracks. The most common of these are angular and are characterized by the presence of small breaks that are present at the edge of the crack and appear as flat lines or ridges. They are usually small or may even fade over time and become invisible when the skin heals.
Another type of fissure is called a submucosal fissure, which is located in the lingual folds of the tongue and is much smaller than an angular fissure and is caused by the accumulation of plaque, which can reach the inner layers of tissue
Sialolithiasis is also a common type of fissure and can show up as white patches of different colors. Sometimes these spots can turn into papules, spread and cause infection. They are more difficult to diagnose, but can be treated if they are accompanied by inflammation, bleeding, or other oral manifestations. Finally, there are some types of soft tissue lesions that look just like submucosal fissures but look like soft lumps. These formations are called paronychia, and they can appear as bumps in the tongue cavity or as small lesions of inflamed tissue in the mouth.
It is important to note that sometimes cracks can form on the mucous membrane that are very similar to soft tissue lesions. When inflammation occurs, the mucous membrane can rupture and form a cavity.
Sometimes the cracks can get deeper. Some of them can last for years and even lead to periodontal disease. It is often the result of infection, trauma, or erosion of the mucous tissues that support the teeth. The process of tissue erosion also leads to the formation of pockets.
Because fissures can be caused by damage to the underlying tissues, soft tissue lesions may be present. They can be seen as discoloration, swelling, or tenderness around the tooth and they may even cause pain and difficulty swallowing.
If a soft tissue lesion becomes infected, bacteria can enter the mouth and make the tissues swollen. This will cause inflammation and bleeding and in some cases the infection may lead to bleeding gums.