Which doctor should I contact for papillomas under the tongue?

1. Description of papillomas under the tongue
2. Which doctor should I contact?
   1. Therapist
   2. Dentist
   3. ENT
   4. Dermatologist
   5. Oncologist
   6. Virologist
   7. Immunologist
3. Who removes papillomas under the tongue

Papillomas under the tongue are small benign neoplasms that appear as a result of active HPV activity. The area under the tongue is considered one of the widespread localizations of such formations. This is primarily due to the possibility of transmitting a virus that causes growths to appear through kissing in the presence of damage to the mucous membrane. Due to the extremely inconvenient location for a person, papillomas under the tongue cause severe discomfort, and therefore require immediate consultation with a doctor. Which one exactly - let's find out.

Description of papillomas under the tongue

In the photo there are papillomas under the tongue

Before you decide which doctor to contact for papillomas under the tongue, you need to find out what such growths are. These are benign formations of small size - about 0.2-0.5 cm. Most often they appear here in several pieces, in groups. Their color is mostly pale pink or red. Sometimes a white coating appears here, the reason for which is the active activity of various bacteria that live in the oral cavity in considerable quantities.

Both flat and hanging formations can appear here, and in some cases condylomas can be seen. They are localized on the oral mucosa and mainly affect the area where the tongue comes into contact with the teeth. This diagnosis is also sometimes made if these growths appear directly on the underside.

Before you consult any doctor with papillomas under the tongue, you need to find out about the possible causes of their appearance. The provoking factor is the active activity of the virus of the same name. In most cases, we are talking about its transmission through a kiss, during oral sexual contact, examination by an ENT doctor or treatment at the dentist using poorly sterilized instruments.

People who have a habit of biting their nails and do not like to wash their hands after going outside, especially before eating, can also become infected. The reason for this can also be shaking it with another person, if there are lesions on the skin through which HPV usually penetrates into the blood.

You may not immediately need to go to any doctor with papilloma under the tongue, because after the virus enters the body, several years may pass before its traces appear. Such problems are provoked by bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol) and poor nutrition, when the diet lacks proteins, ascorbic acid, iron and other beneficial substances.

Poor ecology, constant stressful situations, long-term, uncontrolled antibiotic treatment, which almost always leads to an imbalance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the intestines, also contribute to the activation of the papilloma virus. All this, in turn, negatively affects the immune system and prevents it from properly protecting the body from HPV.

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Which doctor should I contact for papillomas under the tongue?

If you don’t know which doctor is best to go to for papilloma under the tongue, visit a therapist. He will conduct an initial examination and determine which specialist to involve to solve the problem.

Is it important to see a therapist for papillomas under the tongue?

Such a doctor is sometimes called a family doctor, because he supervises the patient on a number of health issues. But at the same time, only adults should go to him; if we are talking about children, then it is necessary to consult a pediatrician.

This multidisciplinary specialist has the right to write out directions for necessary examinations, recommend visiting other doctors and prescribe medications that are relevant, in his opinion.

It is also worth going to a general practitioner with papilloma under the tongue because he will supervise the work of more specialized specialists - a dermatologist, dentist, virologist, etc.

If the diagnosis is obvious, then he may well take responsibility for the patient’s health and independently carry out treatment.

Do I need to go to the dentist if papilloma occurs under the tongue?

These specialists include surgeons, orthopedists, orthodontists, hygienists, endodontists, periodontists and therapists. For papillomas, it makes sense to contact only the last two doctors who are responsible for the condition of the oral mucosa.

Before you go to the dentist with papilloma under the tongue, it must be said that he should not specifically examine the problem area during consultation or treatment for such growths. But if this specialist identifies them, then he may well identify these tumors and advise you to contact an ENT specialist, a dermatologist and other doctors who are more relevant in this case. Thus, it is logical to come here only if you have concomitant dental problems.

1. See also visiting the dentist for oral papilloma

Functions of an ENT specialist in the treatment of papilloma under the tongue

This specialist examines patients with complaints of any pathologies in the mouth, ears, or nose. Officially, he is called an otorhinolaryngologist. It is this doctor that you should first go to with your problem, since his competence includes the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the oral mucosa.

If you are still not sure which doctor to contact for papilloma under the tongue, then go to an ENT specialist. He conducts a visual inspection of the formation, paying special attention to its size, color, structure, boundaries, shape. Based on this, a preliminary conclusion is made that the growth is benign. If this specialist is not sure about it, then it may be necessary to perform certain examinations.

Here is what is included in the range of diagnostic services:

1. Pharyngoscopy. This is a relatively superficial procedure, which is based on studying the condition of the oral cavity using a special mirror, spatula and flashlight. This allows you to more accurately examine the mucous membrane and the area at the bottom of the tongue to exclude malignant processes. But still, this method does not provide a 100% guarantee, and in this case, more serious procedures such as laryngoscopy come to the rescue. If it is necessary to perform them, you should contact an endoscopist if you have papilloma under the tongue.
2. Laryngoscopy. This method is relevant only if there is a suspicion of growth of the formation and damage to the larynx. There are two types - direct and indirect. The first, in fact, resembles pharyngoscopy, while the second requires insertion of a special instrument into the larynx through the mouth. This procedure is quite painful and is mainly performed under general anesthesia.
3. Videoendoscopy. Using this method, it is possible to accurately determine the location of the papilloma, determine its size, structure, surface, boundaries and shape. The picture obtained as a result of this procedure is displayed on the screen and makes it possible to clearly record the state of the formation. During this procedure, a sample can be taken for a biopsy to exclude the presence of malignant processes.

If, when visiting an ENT doctor for papilloma under the tongue, any suspicions regarding oncology arise, the patient is referred for an MRI or CT scan. These are the most informative methods of examining the oral cavity, which provide the most accurate image of the formation.

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What are the tasks of a dermatologist when identifying papillomas under the tongue?

This doctor is consulted not only when papillomas appear on the skin, he deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the formation of growths, including those located on the mucous membranes. He, like the ENT specialist, visually examines the tumor and, if necessary, takes a smear to perform a cytological analysis. This allows you to identify the type of pathogen and select the most powerful means to eliminate it.

If there is a risk of the formation degenerating into malignant, then you should definitely contact a dermatologist with the papilloma under the tongue, who will issue a referral for histological examination to exclude it. This doctor may prescribe certain medications and products for external use - rinses, solutions, lotions, etc.

Why should you consult an oncologist for papillomas under the tongue?

This doctor diagnoses, studies and treats people with malignant tumors. He knows exactly what a papilloma that is dangerous in this regard looks like and can identify it visually. But to make a correct diagnosis, the doctor always uses the results of a biopsy, the referral for which is given by himself or a dermatologist, or some other specialist.

If the formation is benign, and this is confirmed by the analysis, then there is no need to contact an oncologist for papilloma under the tongue. But at the same time, for those who have cases of malignant tumors in their family, therapists still recommend seeing him once every 6-12 months. Thus, it will be possible to identify the pathology in time and, if necessary, begin treatment in the early stages.

How can a virologist help with papillomas under the tongue?

As the name implies, this specialist is responsible for suppressing the activity of the papilloma virus, without which it is simply impossible to successfully eliminate the growth. Even if this happens thanks to the use of effective external agents, a relapse may occur very soon, and secondary tumors are likely to appear.

Before choosing which doctor to contact for papillomas under the tongue, you need to learn more about the tasks of each of them. The virologist is responsible for determining the type of pathogen. Without this, there can be no talk of selecting the most effective means to which HPV is not resistant. Such specialists are not always on staff at city clinics; most often you need to look for them in specialized medical institutions or in private clinics.

It is the virologist who usually prescribes drugs like Lykopid, Kagocel and a number of others to combat the activity of HPV. Due to this, the load on the immune system is reduced, and it begins to more effectively fight the pathogen, which is one of the main conditions for successful recovery.

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The role of the immunologist in the treatment of papillomas under the tongue

Those who do not know which doctor to contact if they have papilloma under the tongue can be advised to consult an immunologist. Like a virologist, he is a rather rare specialist. This is why their responsibilities are often combined and performed by one person.

Its importance lies in the fact that it simultaneously helps fight HPV and strengthen the body's defenses. As a result of this interaction, the patient recovers faster, and the chances of successful elimination of formations increase.

An immunologist can write a referral for a blood test to determine the level of important substances in the body - iron, folic and ascorbic acid, vitamin B12, etc. His responsibilities also include prescribing complexes containing them and immunostimulants to protect cells from the active activity of HPV.

Who removes papillomas under the tongue?

When deciding which doctor to go to for removal of papilloma under the tongue, please note: if the therapist cannot cope with the formations in passive ways, by taking medications, and other specialists also do not know what to do next, all that remains is to contact either a physiotherapist or surgeon If you are interested in low-traumatic methods of removing growth, then it is better to choose the first one.

Physiotherapists offer many services, including cryodestruction, electrocoagulation, laser and radio wave removal to eliminate papilloma under the tongue. All these methods are aimed at destroying unhealthy cells of the formation and eliminating it independently some time after the session.

If you are not sure which doctor is best to contact for papilloma under the tongue, then you should understand that the surgeon is usually left as a last resort, since his visit, to one degree or another, requires an operation to remove the growth with a scalpel. This is fraught with bleeding, the occurrence of ulcers and erosions, the appearance of scars and infection. If the growths are small, then the process may be limited to the use of forceps and local anesthesia to minimize discomfort.

Which doctor should you contact for papillomas under the tongue - watch the video:

If you are not sure which doctor to go to if you discover papilloma under the tongue, you should not delay this issue and look for a suitable specialist. In this case, it is easiest and most reliable to seek advice from a local internist or family doctor. He will collect anamnesis, listen to existing complaints, and conduct an examination of the oral cavity and, in particular, the growth itself. After that, he himself will orient you which specialist is needed in each specific situation.

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