I haven't personally seen any patients with SCC under 30. But the biopsies that I have sent for have turned back negative so far so I tend to be overly cautious. But smoking does put you at HIGHER risk than a non-smoker. I didn't mean to imply you are at the highest risk possible. But the most definitive way to find out is to do a biopsy.
So to reiterate, even though I am 25 years old, have smoked less than 1 pack a day for less than 10 years, that puts me in a HIGH risk category? Even though it is a white area with an acute onset of less than a month ago? I had thought that SCC and pre-malignanant lesions were slow developing over the course of months or years in people in their 5th and 6th decade. Do you see a lot of people with pre-malignancies and SCC that are under 30?
Sorry. There's no definitive way to say what it is with a clinical observation. It would need to be biopsied in order to find out what it is. With your smoking history, it does put you in a higher risk category and the best thing to do is to find an oral surgeon who can perform a biopsy for your peace of mind.
no one's got any help for me? no ideas at all? I talked with my dentist over the phone and he seemed unconcerned but said to see him if it doesn't clear up, but I still want to have an idea of WHAT this may be