Medical Care

No definitive therapy or medication is required for fissured tongue.^[11]If symptomatic, patients with fissured tongue are encouraged to brush the dorsum of the tongue to eliminate debris that may serve as an irritant.

Consultations

Additional consultation with an appropriate physician may be necessary if the patient exhibits manifestations of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, particularly cranial nerve VII paralysis.

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Media Gallery

Fissured tongue. Courtesy of Kozlovsk (own work), via Wikimedia Commons.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert D Kelsch, DMD Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell; Oral Pathology Division, Department of Dental Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Robert D Kelsch, DMD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Michael J Wells, MD, FAAD Dermatologic/Mohs Surgeon, The Surgery Center at Plano Dermatology

Michael J Wells, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS Consulting Staff, Dermatology of Southwest Ohio

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, American Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jeff Burgess, DDS, MSD (Retired) Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, University of Washington School of Dental Medicine; (Retired) Attending in Pain Center, University of Washington Medical Center; (Retired) Private Practice in Hawaii and Washington; Director, Oral Care Research Associates

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Jean Paul Ortonne, MD Chair, Department of Dermatology, Professor, Hospital L'Archet, Nice University, France

Jean Paul Ortonne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.