Abstract
The lateral border of the tongue is the most common site for tongue cancers. Chronic mechanical irritation from misalignment of the teeth or ill-fitting dental prostheses is considered to cause tongue cancers. In cases with no misalignment of teeth, persistent irritation of the lateral border of the tongue because of inconsistencies between the dental arch and tongue size can be a factor for the onset of tongue cancers. Orthodontic treatments are considered effective for patients with misaligned teeth or a narrow tongue space that mechanically stimulates the oral mucosa. However, orthodontic treatments are not appropriate for all patients due to age or economic burden.
In this study, we attempted to reduce mechanical stimulation of the oral mucosa with a removable prosthetic device to prevent recurrence after primary treatment in three cases of tongue cancer, which may have been caused by chronic mechanical stimuli. The use of this prosthetic device alleviated local physical stimulation in all cases, and so may be useful for preventing recurrence of tongue cancer. This prosthetic device is simple to use and removable. It is an effective barrier against mechanical stimulation of the oral mucosa. Patient education is important because indentations caused by mechanical stimulation easily relapse when the device is not used.
