Oral Pathology
It is important for you to maintain routine follow-up appointments with your dentist. Occasionally, you or your dentist may notice changes that occur in the soft tissues on the inside of your mouth or changes within the bone which can be seen on an x-ray. The following lists includes some signs of a pathological process:
- New swelling or expansion
- A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
- Drainage within the mouth
- Changes in the color of tissues in your mouth such as reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia)
- Loosening of teeth
- Sore spots which fail to heal
- Changes in the appearance of the bones surrounding your teeth on an xray
- Shifting of your jaw or your bite
These changes can be from a variety of different causes. These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology, and curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. There are many benign types of pathologic lesions which occur in the mouth. Depending on the type of the lesion it may be a variation of normal or it may require a biopsy and definitive treatment. If you have a lesion which does not appear normal, Dr. Amborski and Dr. Pitcher will obtain a thorough medical history and conduct a detailed examination to help determine the appropriate care. Oftentimes, a small procedure in the office can address an issue before it becomes a large problem.