A case study that was released discussed how enlarged gum tissue in children could be an indicator of leukemia (AML).
Often for a dental professional, it can be tough to correctly diagnose an individual based upon what is taking place in their mouth alone. Because of this, when diagnosing an issue, dental practitioners must think about the rest of the body. They should consider looking into the medical background of the patient and the patient's family when making a diagnosis.
Leukemia
A type of cancer, Leukemia changes the number of white blood cells and impacts the body's capability of fighting infections. Leukemia forces the blood-forming tissues of the body to build a large amount of abnormal white blood cells which are unable to function correctly and reduce the amount of the kinds of blood cells which allow blood clotting or to convey oxygen. Death from this disease is often due to bleeding or from infection.
When covering this topic, Dentistry Today mentioned that dental practitioners begin the diagnosis of 33% of patients who have myelomonocytic leukemia and 25% who have myelogenous leukemia.
Should parents be concerned?
Bleeding or swelling gums, or gingivitis are often the early indications of leukemia. The gum tissue might actually swell enough to where the tissues start to conceal the enamel in severe occurrences. Other things to be aware of include inexplicable loss of weight and feeling weak.
Is there a treatment?
The most effective course of action for dealing with leukemia is still chemotherapy, along with bone marrow transplants and blood transfusions. These treatments can help with the gum problem also.
The website Everyday Health has advice on caring for your mouth when you have leukemia. When looking for causal reasons, while having bigger gum tissues does not immediately suggest your child has leukemia, it is essential to be mindful of the possibility. Bigger gum tissue could also be the result of possibilities such as puberty-based gingivitis, menstrual cycle-associated gingivitis, Crohn's illness, lymphoma, ascorbic acid shortage, neurofibromatosis, and much more.
It is advised to give
Dr. Lechner or your doctor a call if you have a child who may have unusually large gum tissue so a proper medical diagnosis can be provided.