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Thomson P Oral white lesions: who, what, where, when, how and why?. Faculty Dent J. 2024; 15:30-36 https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsfdj.2024.10
Felix DH, Luker J, Scully C Oral medicine: 6. White lesions. Dent Update. 2013; 40:146-148 https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2013.40.2.146
Barr D, Potter P, Dusen LV, Burke J Prevalence of medical problems associated with playing the great Highland bagpipe: survey results and comparisons to other musicians. Med Probl Perform Art. 2005; 20 https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2005.4032
Chapter 23. Red and white lesions, 4th edn. In: Challacombe S, Carey B, Setterfield J (eds). : Elsevier; 2023
Müller S Frictional keratosis, contact keratosis and smokeless tobacco keratosis: features of reactive white lesions of the oral mucosa. Head Neck Pathol. 2019; 13:16-24 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-018-0986-3
Warnakulasuriya S White, red, and mixed lesions of oral mucosa: a clinicopathologic approach to diagnosis. Periodontol. 2019; 80:89-104 https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12276
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Bagpiper's oral hyperkeratosis

From Volume 52, Issue 6, June 2025 | Pages 382-384

Authors

Lewis Olsson

BDS(Hons), MFDS, RCPSG

MBChB(Hons), BDS(Hons), MFDS RCPSGla, Clinical Lecturer in Oral Medicine, Glasgow Dental School

Articles by Lewis Olsson

Email Lewis Olsson

John Steele

BDS MFDS RCSEd

MB, ChB, BDS, MFDS, RCSEd FDS(OM), RCSEd DipOM, PGCTLCP, FHEA, Consultant in Oral Medicine, Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Articles by John Steele

Abstract

This article includes, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first described cases of hyperkeratosis of the oral mucosa induced by playing the bagpipes. The clinical and pathological features of two cases are presented. A discussion summarizes the health implications of bagpipe playing as well as the orofacial implications of playing other musical instruments.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: White patches of the oral mucosa are common, and it is important for the clinician to take a thorough history to be able to determine the likely aetiology.

Article

White patches can be a clinical feature of a broad range of pathologies affecting the oral mucosa and gingivae.1 Differential diagnoses of a white patch are diverse and include benign and malignant pathologies, as well as local processes and systemic disease.2 Dentists should be well equipped to identify, manage or refer these lesions; therefore a knowledge of common and rarer causes is essential.

The bagpipes are a woodwind instrument; however, they differ from most other woodwind instruments in that the player does not blow the reeds directly but, instead, fills a reservoir bag with air via a mouthpiece. The player uses pressure on this bag via their supporting arm to maintain airflow through the bagpipe while taking a breath, with the aim of producing a constant and steady pressure to the reeds. This results in a continuous sound via the chanter and three drones.3

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