Oral pathology refers to and treats abnormalities, such as lesions and cysts, in the mouth and jaws. Most oral pathologies are not harmful, but you should still get any changes in the oral cavity checked out by an oral surgeon.
The skin on the interior of the oral cavity is called the mucosa. When abnormalities are discovered in these soft tissues, it’s important to have your mouth evaluated by a dental professional — preferably an oral and maxillofacial surgeon because this type of dental professional has special training in the treatment of oral pathologies. Normally, the mucosa should appear smooth and pink in color — if you notice any change in the color or texture of the mucosa, consider it a warning sign that you may be developing an oral pathology in your mouth, salivary glands, or jaws. When oral pathologies are caught early, they are more easily treated, so a monthly oral self-exam is a good habit to form. Keep in mind that since pain does not always occur with pathologies, particularly in the case of cancer. Most oral pathologies are harmless and benign, but if you do notice anything irregular, please come and see us — we provide oral cancer screenings using the VELscope® method, a process that uses natural tissue fluorescence to indicate oral mucosal abnormalities that might not be visible to the naked eye.
If Dr. Friedman, Dr. Schulhof, or Dr. Montazem find that you have an oral pathology, we may perform a biopsy, during which a small sample of oral tissue is removed by the oral surgeon and sent to a lab for a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been made, your oral surgeon will talk with you about a proposed treatment plan. Everything will be discussed in detail, and any questions you have will be addressed. Our surgeons will implement the very best plan to get your mouth back to health!
Oral pathologies range from minor canker sores to more serious issues, such as oral cancer. Some of the signs that indicate you should come in to see your oral surgeon for an evaluation include the following:
Most variations in the color and texture of your oral cavity will not be serious, but any noteworthy changes should be looked at by the doctor. If any of these signs are apparent, please call North Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery to schedule a pathology screening with one of our doctors.
Our oral surgeons have special training in the identification and treatment of oral pathologies. If you notice abnormalities in your mouth, please don’t hesitate to schedule an oral pathology screening at our practice. Your health is very important to us — and we will make every effort to see you in our office as quickly as possible.
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