Oral frictional hyperkeratosis is a benign white lesion of the oral mucosa that is caused by chronic trauma to the site. This tends to occur in adults.

The area is asymptomatic.

This occurs on the maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridges particularly after extraction of teeth, and particularly in the area of extracted mandibular third molars on the retromolar pad area. The alveolar ridge mucosa that had previously been "protected" from food impingement is now exposed to trauma and becomes hyperkeratotic as a protective mechanism.

However, other sites may be affected depending on the circumstance. For example, a sharp or broken cusp that rubs against the buccal mucosa or lateral/ventral tongue may cause an area of hyperkeratosis.

These areas take months to develop and they persist as long as the traumatic events persist.

Related topic: Chronic cheek chewing