ok, here it goes...

I really don't know where to start, so I'll just throw this much out there.

I have been having problems with my mouth, gums, and face. About two months ago, I started having slight pain in my upper mouth - above my teeth, feels like in the bone around my cheeks/face. This happened on and off. Still does although it's been getting worse.

My jaw bone joint clicks and when I open and close my jaw, it sounds like there is "crunching" sound that occurs.

The pain I experience sometimes is felt in the upper jaw - by the cheeks and sometimes radiates to the lower jaw. Lately I've been feeling a burning sensation in my gums and it feels like my upper lip is swollen. When I woke up this morning, my lower lip seems swollen and feels like I have a burning sensation there. The inside of my mouth also feels dry.

I really can't see any sores. I have always taken - what I feel - excellent care of my mouth by brushing my teeth, gums, and tongue everyday.

So, two questions: 1) What kind of doctor do I go to - a dentist or a MD?; 2) do any of the symptoms I described indicate or suggest cancer?

Thank you for your input.

Make an appt with an ENT.

Hi Steve and welcome to OCF. Hopefully you will not find a need to stay of these forums.

I agree with David that you should make an appointment with an ENT (ear nose and throat) or you can always start with your dentist but either way, I would make an appointment soon.

Oral cancer displays differently for different people and we are not doctors here so we would not be doing you a service giving you our opinion on your symptoms. The best thing you can do is to see a dentist or ENT. Good luck and I hope you find you do not have a need to come back here.

Good advice given here, Steve. Let us know when you know more.
david 2

Yup, good advice. When my son had symptoms, he waited longer that he should have before seeing his dentist who sent him to an Oral surgeon for a biopsy and then to an ENT. So, do it as soon as possible. It's better to know for sure what's happening so you can deal with whatever needs to be done and let us know.

Very good advice. I put off seeing my dentist when I had a sore place on my tongue - but he ordered a biopsy as soon as he saw it. I saw the ENT the day after I received the results of the biopsy, and had surgery the following week: followed by basically a whole summer of radiation and chemo.

Made an appointment to see an ENT. Here's the report....

Went in an explained symptoms. Doc checked me out... clear ears, told me mouth was fine, but front nasal cavity had issues. Doc suspected sinus infection, but was not convinced. Doc didn't want to prescribe antibiotics if there wasn't an infection. Had an x-ray while I was there.... a full x-ray of head with different views... don't know what it's called, maybe someone out there can help with that. The x-ray showed an inflammation in the tissue of the front nasal cavity on both sides right above my teeth, no sinus infection... therefore, no antibiotics. The doc said the inflammation indicated in the x-ray is common. I was prescribed nasal spray and oral steroids for a week.

Are there any other questions I need to ask the doc? Am I missing something? Is the doc missing something? I feel a little better, but I want to make 100% sure there's not any severe issues.

Thanks everyone.

Steve,

I guess the question you have to ask yourself is what is going to give you peace of mind? If you trust that this ENT has explored every avenue to your satisfaction (which it doesn't sound like) then accept his opinion. If you don't then find another, preferrably from a reputable facility, and get a second opinion. If your mind still is not at ease...then ask for a CT or PET Scan. These are expensive and will only show areas of concern that can be biopsied as only a biopsy will tell if you have cancer.

Other then this, these forums won't be much use for you as none of us can diagnose you. I'll leave you with these words of comfort that we share with all...it's NOT cancer until a biopsy says it is so put it out of your mind, take the steps above for prudence sake.

Be well

Eric

Hopefully they are correct in that it is just inflammation. For me, my sinus infections, always represent with inflammation. But my doctor can always just look up my nostrils and just tell it's an infection. I hope it is just as simple as inflammation/infection for you.

Maybe a second opinion would help. Do you have a general physician that you see for your general health and annual checkups? I found my general practice was very knowledgeable and made the best reference for me, the one that saved my life!

If you are confident and trust this ENT diagnosis then go for it and be satisfied, if not, get a second opinion.

Steve, it's true that what you can live with in terms of an answer is most important - but don't accept what the ENT dr. said out of fear and just leave it at that - I did that after my first biopsy tested negative only to find out 2 years later that he likely didn't get the tissue from the right location as I do have OC in the exact place I'd been complaining about for what is now- the past 4 years. A second opinion wouldn't hurt - just to be on the safe side. Regardless do the treatment and if doesn't get better or comes back - make some noise - see someone else - do something. Best of luck and I hope very much it is just an inflammation.