The phone's ringing
Doctor: The Countryside Surgery. It's doctor Nowak speaking. How can I help you?
Patient: Good morning. I would like to make an appointment. I have a painful spot on the inner part of my lip. It has appeared the day befotre yesterday. It's quite painful. Is there a chance to have an appointment scheduled for tofday?
Doctor: Yes Sir. I can see you tonight , but only at the very end, after all the patients. So please come about six o'clock. I hope that I will be able to see you at once, but you may find that you will have to wait a while.
Patient: Thank you. I'll be there at six o'clock.
At the surgery
Patient: Hello, I have an appointment for six o'clock.
Doctor: Hello. Could you wait a moment, please? I'll call you in a few minutes.
After a few minutes
Doctor: Please come in. How can I help you Sir?As far as I remember, you said that something had occured on your lip.
Patient: Yes, but from the inside. From the outside you can not see.
Doctor: Let me see. Oh yes, case is clear. It is aphthae – a quite large one. Sometimes there are few of them but they are smaller in size then. This one is large and unfortunately it will be quite a long time before it heals. It may be painful for a few days. To speed the healing up, you should apply the gel. I'll write you the name of it on a piece of paper. You will get it at a pharmacy without a prescription. It should be applied with a clean finger on affected area, so it resambles dressing. It should be applied at night, before bedtime.
Patient: Did I catch this aphthae from somebody?
Doctor: The causes of mouth ulcers are not completely known. The lack of vitamins is sometimes considered a cause, and sometimes they are formed because teeth are brushed too hard. It is also believed that the mouth ulcers are due to hormonal or allergic imbalance. If your aphthae heals, there is no need for us to meet again. However, if it doesn't heal, please come to see me again. Also, inform me, if it appears again. I understand, it is the first time you have such a problem.
Patient: I think so, although a few years ago I had something on my tongue. Maybe it was aphthae as well.
Doctor: Maybe. Mouth ulcers can occur both on the tongue and cheek, but quite often localize in oral mucuosa.
Patient: Should I take any additional medication for this aphthae.
Doctor: There is no need for that, though, of course, vitamins, especially vitamin B or folic acid, will do no harm.
Patient: Well, I have not been taking any vitamins, so maybe I should start doing that. So thank you for your help. If the aphthae doesn't want to heal, I will call you and schedule another visit.
Patient: Well, I have not been taking any vitamins, so maybe I should start doing that. So thank you for your help. If the aphthae doesn't want to heal, I will call you and schedule another visit.
Doctor: Of course.
Patient: Goodbye
Doctor: Bye-bye!
Doctor: Bye-bye!
VOCABULARY PRACTICE
Complete the text with words from the table.
| stain | NRT | permanent | recurring |
| as quickly as possible | fitting | dissolves | a straw |
| stinging | overused | twice |
infected
|
What are the treatments for aphthous ulcers?
Treatment aims to ease the pain when ulcers occur, and to help them to heal 1)........................... There is no treatment that prevents aphthous mouth ulcers from 2)......................
The pain is often mild, particularly with the common 'minor' type of aphthous ulcer. Each bout of ulcers will go without treatment.
General measures include:
- Avoiding spicy foods, acidic fruit drinks, and very salty foods (such as crisps) which can make the pain and 3).................... worse.
- Using 4)................. to drink, to avoid the liquids touching ulcers in the front of the mouth.
- Using a very soft toothbrush. Seeing a dentist if you have badly5).................... dentures.
- If you suspect a medication is causing the ulcers, then a change may be possible. For example, if you are using oral 6)................. (nicotine gum or lozenges), it may help to use a different type instead such as patches or nasal spray.
Some medicines may ease your symptoms from the mouth ulcers
- Chlorhexidine mouthwash may reduce the pain. It may also help ulcers to heal more quickly. It also helps to prevent ulcers from becoming7)................. Unfortunately, it does not reduce the number of new ulcers. Chlorhexidine mouthwash is usually used 8)...................... a day. It may 9)................. teeth brown if you use it regularly. However, the stain is not usually 10)................ , and can be reduced by avoiding drinks that contain tannin (such as tea, coffee, or red wine), and by brushing teeth before use. Rinse your mouth well after you brush your teeth, as some ingredients in toothpaste can inactivate chlorhexidine.
- Steroid lozenges may also reduce the pain, and may help ulcers to heal more quickly. By using your tongue you can keep a lozenge in contact with an ulcer until the lozenge 11)....................... . A steroid lozenge works best the sooner it is started once an ulcer erupts. The usual dose is one lozenge, four times a day, until the ulcer goes. In children, use for no more than five days at a time.
- A painkilling oral rinse, gel, or mouth spray may help to ease pain and should not be used in children under the age of 16 due to a potential risk of Reye's syndrome if it is 12)........................ This is the same reason why aspirin cannot be used in children too.
Guess the words and match a proper term with a given definition.
isdarchge …........................
bniegn …........................
elonsi …........................
Cnaerk Sero …........................
rcurreing …........................
atheaph amjoesr …....................
ASR …........................
lcuer …........................
lcuer …........................
________________- informal name for aptheous mouth ulcer.
________________- an illness/ condition which keeps coming back.
________________- a break in skin or mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue, disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissue, and often pus.
________________- is a common condition, restricted to the mouth, that typically starts in childhood or adolescence as recurrent small, round, or ovoid ulcers with circumscribed margins, erythematous haloes, and yellow or gray floors.
________________- the flow of fluid from part of the body.
________________- an injury; hurt; wound.
________________- a severe form of aphthae characterized by large numerous, frequently occurring ulcers that may take up to six weeks to heal.
Lesson 46 answers
