Creasing of facial skin at the lip corners due to tooth loss and poorly fitting dentures is normally a pre-indicator of which condition?

• A. Angular cheilitis
• B. Oral lichen planus
• C. Herpes simplex
• D. Oral candidiasis

Answer: (A)

Creasing and fissuring at the corners of the mouth in someone with tooth loss and ill-fitting dentures points to inflammation at the commissures known as angular cheilitis. The dentures can cause chronic moisture, friction, and saliva pooling in that area, which macerates the skin and sets the stage for irritation and infection. Candida species are often involved, making the condition common in denture wearers. This specific localization helps distinguish it from other conditions: herpes simplex tends to produce vesicles and ulcers on the lips, oral candidiasis presents as white patches on the mucosa, and oral lichen planus shows reticular or erosive lesions elsewhere in the mouth. In short, the corner-mouth creasing is a hallmark early sign of angular cheilitis in this clinical setting.