Oral Pathology

Pathology of the face and jaws simply means the growth of something that is not supposed to be there. This can take the form of a cyst, a tumor, or even just extra teeth in the mouth.

Your general dentist should be performing regular head and neck exams at every visit, to screen for oral pathology.

If something is found on your exam that is concerning, your dentist will send you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for further management. The first step in the management of a soft tissue abnormality is usually going to be a biopsy. This means surgically excising a portion of the abnormal-looking tissue and sending it to an oral and maxillofacial pathologist. The pathologist examines the tissue cells under a microscope and is able to provide a diagnosis so that we can then take the next steps to properly treat the lesion.

If something is found on your dentist’s x-ray that is concerning, the next step is to see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and get a cone beam CT scan, which is a 3-dimensional image that will provide more detail about the lesion. Depending on what the image shows, you may or may not require a biopsy.

The important thing is to get evaluated in a timely manner. If you or your dentist is concerned about a growth or a lesion, call or come see us in our office for an evaluation.