Oral Pathology

Identifying and treating mouth diseases

Oral pathology is the treatment of conditions in the mouth, soft tissues, and jaws. The inside lining of a healthy mouth is a special type of skin — mucosa — that is usually smooth and coral pink. Any changes in the mucosa may indicate that a condition has developed. The most serious is oral cancer.

Symptoms to watch for include:

Reddish patches in the mouth (erythroplasia)
Whitish patches in the mouth (leukoplakia)
A sore that bleeds easily and fails to heal
A lump or thickening of skin inside the mouth
Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, or neck. While pain isn’t a symptom of oral cancer, any facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause shouldn’t be ignored. If you notice lumps, sores, or any of the symptoms described above, contact your dentist for a referral to our office.

Procedures

We offer a full range of oral and maxillofacial surgery services — from dental implants and wisdom tooth removal, to corrective jaw surgery — with patient care provided in both office and hospital settings.