Always check the soft tissue!

Today I missed an ulcer on the patient's lower lip, on further investigation it turns out the patient has had that same ulcer for a number of years and a previous clinician had recommended a biopsy which she didn't return for. Missing this was a mistake and I need to try harder to check the soft tissues and pay attention to detail.

To describe lesions use:
1. Site
a. anatomic location (e.g tongue, floor of mouth, palate)
b. Adjacent features (E.g adjacent to 34 tooth)
c. Unilateral/bilateral
d. Localised/Generalised

2. Colour

3. Morphology
a. Diameter (mm)
b. Single/multiple
c. Separate/Coalescing
d. Raised/flat/depressed
e. Fluid filled/tissue filled/texture
f. Margins (Regular/irregular, Raised/smooth, Colour)