Oral Pathology
As oral and maxillofacial surgeons, we are asked to evaluate conditions in the oral cavity and associated anatomical structures as to whether it is a normal condition or pathological condition.
Is it cancer?
Various types of changes can occur in the lining mucosa of the mouth, and cancer can develop in some cases. It is not frequent that we see patients with an oral cancer, but as oral surgeons we are asked frequently to evaluate patients for changes in the mouth, in the salivary glands, and in the bone of the upper and lower jaws. Evaluations are done through a medical history and direct examination to understand the history of the problem and determine the anatomical location, the color, shape and texture of the surface or changes in the mucosa or lining of the mouth. Different types of radiographs (x-rays) are done to determine if any changes have occurred in the bone of the jaws. Changes in the bone on imaging may indicate pathology within the bone. A pathologist may need to do a biopsy of the tissue and analyze it under a microscope. This is done with most lesions to have an understanding of the disease process and obtain a diagnosis. Cancer can occur in the oral region, and if any changes are apparent on an exam, patients may be referred to one of the doctors at Austin Oral Surgery to rule out cancer through a thorough evaluation.
What happens with impacted teeth?
Pathology can occur around any impacted tooth. This may be a routine problem of infection, or it could be a severe problem of cyst formation or tumor development. This is the reason for evaluating and extracting impacted teeth. If impacted teeth are not extracted, they should be evaluated periodically to be certain that pathology does not develop.
Our team of board-certified oral surgeons can ensure your oral pathology is comfortable, quick, and hassle-free.
