Oral pathology refers to the field of oral and facial medicine that involves the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. If you or your dentist notices any changes in the look or feel of your mouth’s lining, or abnormalities within the jaw bone on your X-ray images, you may be referred to an oral surgeon for diagnosis, biopsy, or treatment.
Drs. Wood,
Coles, Saghafi, and
Holbrook at Arizona Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are experts at diagnosing and treating oral diseases from our offices in Tucson, Oro Valley, and Sahuarita, AZ. We encourage you to
contact our office for an appointment if you have been referred to an oral surgeon by your general dentist, or if you suspect the presence of oral disease and would like an examination.
Symptoms that arise in the mouth or facial structures can be warning signs for larger issues within the body. The mouth is responsible for a wide variety of crucial functions, such as eating, drinking, breathing, and speaking. All these different activities expose the mouth to an increased risk of infection and other problems, so it’s important to attend regular checkups and perform self-exams to prevent signs of diseases from going unnoticed.
Not all early symptoms of a pathological process are uncomfortable or painful, so it’s important to note any changes in the look or feel of the inner lining of your mouth. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, we encourage you to contact our office for an oral examination:
There are many different types of oral and maxillofacial diseases. Some of the most common conditions treated by oral and maxillofacial surgeons include the following:
When you visit our office, we may take
3D scans of your face and mouth to assist in the diagnosis. Your oral surgeon may perform a biopsy on the affected area to determine if the lesion is cancerous or non-cancerous. If a cyst or tumor is non-cancerous, we can simply remove it. Medication may be necessary to manage infections or symptoms. If the biopsy reveals a cancerous lesion, we will discuss the next steps of your treatment together.
Prior to any type of treatment, we will discuss your options for
anesthesia and walk you through each step of the process. It can be nerve-wracking to undergo treatment for oral cancer or disease. Our team is here to support you at every step. If you ever have questions, please contact our office and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.
If you or your dentist finds signs of an oral or facial disease, try to seek treatment as soon as possible. The earlier a pathological process is caught, the easier it is to treat. If you have been told by your general dentist that you require further diagnosing for an oral disease,
contact Arizona Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons today. We have offices in Tucson, Oro Valley, and Sahuarita, AZ, where we will evaluate your condition and create a treatment plan that’s right for you.
