Hi Everyone,
I wrote that on 6/3 my GP took a glance at the bump in my "tonsillar fossa" and called it "swollen lymphoid tissue" and he said not to worry. (easier said than done) The color of this thing is just slightly more white than the normal color of the inside of my mouth. It's about the size of a pencil eraser. Today I happened to have an appt. with my Thyroid Dr, a routine 6-month check and since I was there, I asked him to take a look at the bump/lump. HE said he thought it was a canker sore or "ulceration" but that if it was still there in another few weeks to see an Ear, Nose & Throat Dr. First, I have had MANY cankers in my life and I thought at least that I knew what they looked (and felt) like. This thing, to me, does not look like my "usual" canker. (and it does not hurt like h*ll like most cankers) Second, is an "ENT" a "specialist" then? Is an ENT as experienced at this type of thing as an Oral Surgeon? If I'm going to explore this again I want to at least see the right "category" of doctor, if possible. Are Oral Surgeons technically "dentists" who also have an MD? Thanks for any info - I really appreciate it.
Michelle (Happy Dog)
PS - FYI, I have managed to not see my "regular" dentist for about 3 years as I hate going and am very fearful. I brush and floss regularly and other than "sensitive teeth" I don't think I have any tooth-related problems, but I really have no clue!

OK, mistake number one...not seeing your dentist who is used to looking at soft tissue abnormalities as a matter of routine for three years. Go to an oral surgeon and get this thing checked out. The fact that it is painless and not resolving makes it less likely to be a canker sore (herpes simplex). Herpes simplex sores which most of us get resolve on their own without treatment in 10 days. They routinely hurt like Hell when you get anything in them like lemon juice etc. An oral surgeon is a doctor who starts out as a dentist, and then goes back to school for a few more years to get his surgery specialty degree. These guys do complex facial and oral cavity surgeries and are accustomed to looking at abnormalities like yours. An ENT is a specialist in the ear nose and throat. For all the good guys out there, I had two ENT