eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Oral Mucosa

Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis: Treatment & Medication

Author: Catherine M Flaitz, DDS, MS, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Dental Branch
Coauthor(s): Alfredo Aguirre, DDS, MS, Director of Advanced Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Training Program, Professor, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo; Jose Luis Tapia, DDS, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 27, 2009

Treatment

Medical Care

  • The most important management protocol includes the following:
    • Establish a diagnosis.
    • Be sure that any frictional irritant is removed. Biting, sucking, or chewing habits should be discontinued, and fractured or rough tooth surfaces or irregularly fitting dentures or other appliances should be corrected.
    • Observe and monitor the patient to be certain that the frictional area is resolving in a timely fashion. In general, the patient should be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks for signs of lesion regression or resolution.
    • In the absence of resolution, even when the cause has been eliminated, obtain a biopsy specimen of the tissue to confirm that no dysplastic or neoplastic change is present.

Consultations

Consultation with a dentist, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, an oral and maxillofacial pathologist, a dermatologist, or otolaryngologist may be indicated if a lesion does not resolve after elimination of the suspected irritant. For aggressive cheek and lip biting habits, a psychological evaluation may be appropriate.

Diet

The patient's diet is typically not of concern unless the frictional keratosis is a result of constant chewing of hard foods against an edentulous ridge. The patient should be encouraged to eat on the dentate side, if possible, to avoid trauma to the alveolar mucosa during mastication.

More on Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis

Overview: Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis
Treatment & Medication: Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis
Follow-up: Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis
Multimedia: Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

oral frictional hyperkeratosis, FK, frictional keratosis, friction keratosis, oral friction keratosis, oral lesion, denture friction, broken teeth, fractured, teeth, oral hyperkeratinization, toothbrush keratosis, tongue thrust keratosis, chronic cheek biting, chronic lip biting, cheek bite keratosis, lip bite keratosis, morsicatio buccarum, morsicatio linguorum, ridge callus, oral ridge callus

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Catherine M Flaitz, DDS, MS, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Dental Branch
Catherine M Flaitz, DDS, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, International Association for Dental Research, and International Association of Oral Pathologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Alfredo Aguirre, DDS, MS, Director of Advanced Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Training Program, Professor, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo
Alfredo Aguirre, DDS, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jose Luis Tapia, DDS, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Daniel J Hogan, MD, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine (Dermatology), NOVA Southeastern University; Investigator, Hill Top Research, Florida Research Center
Daniel J Hogan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Contact Dermatitis Society, and Canadian Dermatology Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Research Associates of Cincinnati
Drore Eisen, MD, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, and American Dental Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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