An overview of leprosy with its oral manifestations

Background: Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae which most commonly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. The other sites of leprosy include the liver, kidneys, eyes, oral mucosa, lymph nodes, bones and joints, and gonads. The oral involvement in leprosy includes the tongue, lips, hard palate, buccal mucosa, uvula, faucial pillars, and involvement of gums. Aim: The aim of this comprehensive review is to create the awareness among dental professionals about the classification, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis and management, reactions of leprosy, and oral aspects of leprosy. The awareness among dental professionals will help in the early detection and treatment of leprosy patients. Methods: The comprehensive data were obtained based on the electronic data search about the classification, pathogenesis, clinical features, and oral aspects of leprosy on Google Scholar and PubMed. Results: A total of 14 articles were selected for the purpose of classification, pathogenesis, clinical features, and oral aspects of leprosy. Conclusion: The oral examination of these patients will be helpful in the early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy patients.