Oral Pathology

Oral surgeons have expertise in a variety of areas of dental medicine beyond surgical procedures, including oral pathology.

Oral pathology is the field that focuses on diagnosing and planning treatment for oral diseases. Those diseases can range from infection to benign cysts and tumors to cancer. Dr. King removes samples of irregular tissue for examination on a microscopic level to determine the specific nature of the oral disease.

Correct diagnosis and proper treatment of oral diseases are essential to maintaining good oral health throughout your lifetime. To learn more about our practice’s oral pathology services and when they can be beneficial to patients, contact our office.

When is oral pathology used?

Determining oral pathology is necessary whenever a patient presents with any sort of unusual changes in the mouth, such as persistent sores, red or white patches, or a lump or thickening somewhere in the oral cavity, as well as other issues.

Often, a patient may first see their general dentist about such issues. The general dentist, in turn, will make a referral to Dr. King for a more conclusive diagnosis and information about the nature of the issue that determines its treatment.

Techniques Used In Oral Pathology

Different techniques may be used to diagnose oral diseases. A biopsy is probably the one that is familiar to most patients. When performing a biopsy, Dr. King will either remove a small portion of tissue from the site or attempt to remove the entire lesion, lump or tumor.

That tissue sample is then assessed at a microscopic level to identify the specific disease process. That information is used in both diagnosis and treatment planning.

Depending on the nature and size of the suspicious area, Dr. King may be able to complete the biopsy using only a local anesthetic. Other patients will choose sedation for their biopsies.

Advanced imaging, such as MRI or CBCT, may also be beneficial in determining oral pathology. Such imaging can give Dr. King a more detailed view than an x-ray provides.

oral pathology biopsy | Mid-Cities OMS | Colleyville, TX

How Determining Oral Pathology Benefits Patients

Oral Pathology Exam | Mid-Cities OMS | Colleyville, TX

Accurate oral pathology evaluation is tremendously beneficial to patients. It can help them get effective treatment for oral diseases that would otherwise threaten their oral health and potentially lead to tooth loss or other health problems.

Appropriate treatment for oral diseases can also resolve other symptoms, such as discomfort, bad breath or chewing difficulties.

In some cases, getting the correct diagnosis in a timely fashion can be a life-saving measure. Oral cancer has a particularly poor prognosis when it is diagnosed in later stages after it has already spread to surrounding tissue. However, when oral cancer is identified early, it is much easier to treat.

Common Questions about Oral Pathology

What is oral pathology?

Oral pathology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. It is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the ADA. Oral pathology assesses the nature of unusual tissue at a microscopic level to diagnose oral diseases and plan for the most effective ways to treat those conditions. For example, if a biopsy indicates that a patient has a certain type of oral infection, the pathology may point to a certain antibiotic or anti-fungal medication that would address the issue.

What issues require a biopsy?

Biopsies are necessary when patients have any types of suspicious changes in the oral tissues that don’t resolve on their own after a couple of weeks. Such changes include red or white patches, lumps, cysts or tumors. Biopsy sites may include the lips, tongue, gum tissue, inner cheeks, palate or bone. In performing a biopsy, Dr. King removes a sample of tissue or the entire suspicious area, and the sample is then analyzed microscopically to identify the specific disease process involved.

Why is an oral surgeon qualified to analyze oral pathology?

During their oral surgery residency, prospective oral surgeons study disease processes involved in various oral health issues. This specialized educational experience gives oral surgeons the expertise they need to successfully interpret oral pathology. Furthermore, as many oral biopsies require some sort of surgical procedure, the surgical skills honed by oral surgeons are valuable to that aspect of the process, as well.

What are the most common oral diseases?

The most common oral diseases are tooth decay and gum disease. While oral cancer isn’t as prevalent as those conditions, it has the potential for serious life-threatening consequences. If you have any symptoms that could potentially indicate oral cancer, it’s important to follow up as soon as possible with Dr. King so that you can get an accurate diagnosis and treatment, if needed. Other conditions that can be identified through oral pathology include bacterial infections, fungal infections, cold sores, canker sores, mouth ulcers, and oral herpes.