Oral pathology is the medical
science concerned with the clinical and microscopic nature of
diseases of the oral cavity. Typically, the inside of the mouth
is lined with a smooth/pink tissue known as mucosa. If you or
your dentist notice any change to your mucosa such as white
patches, ulcerations, pigmentations or lumps you may be developing
a pathologic process or cancerous growth. Pain does not always
occur with oral pathology, and is often not associated with
oral cancer.
Establishing a diagnosis of
an oral lesion involves a thorough clinical and x-ray examination.
A definitive diagnosis most often requires a biopsy with microscopic
examination. An oral biopsy can be performed in our office under
a local or intravenous anesthetic. Once a diagnosis is determined,
treatment recommendations are discussed. As with all forms of
cancer, early diagnosis and treatment produces the best results.
