Sorry I posted in the wrong spot. I am new.

I went to the dentist last week and they saw white spots where my wisdom teeth were taken out (15 yrs ago). They said it didn't look good but they would wait and see until my next visit (3 months). Should I see someone else?

Absoutely!!!!!

I would not wait. Have you read on here how fast this stuff can spread? My eyes were opened when I found this site. I would take no chances. An ENT may be a good choice.

Better safe now than sorry later.

K--PLEASE do not wait 3 months! If you can see it with your eyes, they can test it somehow. There are all sorts of biopsy methods available. I have had part of my hard palate removed, along with my right maxilla (upper jaw and teeth) because my dentist did not recognize my cancer and it was allowed to continue to grow for months. He did not give me cancer, but my surgery would have been less destructive if he had A. recognized it and B. moved faster in diagnosing it.

Please don't wait. Go to an ENT immediately, and even better, go to the Head and Neck department of a cancer center, where they see lots and lots of this. They will give you an appointment quickly, and with the proper specialist, likely one of their ENT's.

question: white spots on both sides of your mouth? That would be somewhat encouraging, since it would be doubtful that cancer would occur in both places simultaneously.

You need to look in there with several mirrors and note what it looks like for yourself. And then look every day to see if it gets better or worse. If it gets better, that will be good news. If it just sits there, or gets larger, then that's not such good news, but it still might have an explanation other than cancer. The only way to know is to go to see an ENT and let him/her get an early look.

I use an old-fashioned cheap shaving mirror...on a wire stand, with a mag. side and a reg. side...I place that on the table. I have a small, bright flashlight, and another small rectangular mirror (a purse=sized makeup mirror) I hold the light in one hand, and the small mirror in the other, and I get a really good look in the magnifying mirror. Let your wife (?) look too, so you'll have another set of eyes at work, and so that she will be involved from the beginning.

My husband's dentist noticed a leukoplakia (white patch with no obvious cause) on his tongue that had emerged since his previous visit several months before. A biopsy by an oral surgeon showed moderate dysplasia -- not cancer -- so an excisional biopsy to remove the whole thing wasn't done for a month. By then it had become very early stage cancer. (Note: Many leukoplakias do not turn all the way to the dark side.)

Perhaps wilckdds or DrMike, both dentists who post here frequently, can offer explanations for what you are seeing.

But if my dentist said something "didn't look good," I'd be on the phone for a second opinion. I see you are in Maryland -- Johns Hopkins is #1 for ENT and #3 for cancer in the latest US News rankings, and has dentists on staff at its head and neck cancer clinic.
All the best,
Leslie

I think the comment "doesn't look good" coupled with the comment "see us again in 3 months" are indicative of one thing for certain.... you need a new dentist. Just think about it - the two comments are incongruous with each other. If it's something that is bad....why not get off your ass and see that the patient gets a referral to someone for a second opinion and biopsy? This is what gets dentists sued, and what gives patients later staging, which means more morbidity and worse outcomes. Freaking amazing. If they don't know what it is, it is their responsibiity to see that you get in the hands of someone who will.

Me Personlly hearing Somthing dosent look good ....Means FIX IT NOW..... AND LISTEN TO BRIAN , and everyone else here . I let mine go for 9 months ..I was LUCKY , I can't tell you how lucky , lucky lucky I was .I know that now. Was I lucky to have cancer NO. BUt for what could have been !!!!! My dentist and Dr didn't think somthing was wrong ...you have some one telling you somthing is.. For your self and your peace of mind ...YOU must care ..you are hear asking ....so another dentist and ENT or even That dentist ..CHECK IT NOW!!! fOR YOU !!

Shar

Thank you all for your responses! I am headed to the ENT Friday! I will keep you posted. Good luck to all my prayers are with you.

Kershaw,

It's good that you are going to the ENT this week. Brian is right as always, you need a new dentist. General rule is that if something hangs around for 2 weeks, it should be biopsied.

Please keep us posted about what you find out.

Jerry

What is the differnce between going to oral surgeon or an ENT? Which one would you recommond?