Oral Pathology

What does an oral pathologist do?

Oral pathology is often studied and performed as part of an oral surgeon’s responsibilities. This means diagnosing and treating oral diseases such as gum disease, a misaligned jaw, teeth that are either too large or too small, ulcers, thrush, oral cancer, and far too many other conditions to list here. Because there are so many different pathologies, a large part of what our oral pathologists do is study emerging science, new studies, and other frontiers of the dental field to stay abreast of this complex and rapidly evolving discipline. This knowledge helps make our oral pathologists some of the best equipped to tackle even the most serious conditions.

The importance of oral pathology

Oral pathology is a truly vast discipline and covers so many different conditions that a comprehensive understanding of this field equips our oral surgeon with unparalleled knowledge on treating your oral health. While some oral pathologies can be relatively minor, like the scary-sounding but ultimately harmless black hairy tongue, others can be severe enough to actually be life-threatening, like oral cancer. The earlier these serious pathologies can be caught, the less threatening they are. If you notice that you often have a painfully sore throat, see white or red patchy lumps, or you bleed excessively from the mouth, particularly from open sores like ulcers, then you may be suffering from an oral pathology, and we recommend you schedule a consultation.

How an oral pathologist can help you

If you suspect you may be suffering from an oral pathology, consulting with a dental professional who has a background in this field can be invaluable, even if it just helps give you peace of mind. Cavities, decaying teeth, and diseased gums are some of the pathologies we deal with most frequently, but we can also help with far more serious conditions, even congenital ones such as a cleft palate or lip. When you come into our office, we will do a complete review of your medical history and perform a comprehensive physical examination. Depending on your symptoms and medical history, we may perform a series of scans and x-rays to give us as complete an image as possible. We may even take a biopsy sample.

Meet with an oral pathology specialist

If you are suffering from a known oral pathology like chronic ulcers or are dealing with undiagnosed mouth discomfort or other problems, then consulting a specialist in oral pathology can make a big difference in your health and quality of life. While many oral pathologies are benign and easily treated, others can be quite serious. If you need help with a known pathology, or have an undiagnosed pathology, then we urge you to call Brookfield Oral Surgery at 708-680-7017 as soon as possible to schedule a consultation.