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Oral Pathology (Lesions
and Biopsies)
The inside
of our mouth is lined with a special type of skin called
“mucosa”. This “skin” is usually smooth and pink in
color. Any condition that is a deviation from the normal
appearance could be a warning sign for “disease” or a
pathological process. Oral cancer is usually the most serious of
these oral diseases.
The
following can be signs to “look for” at the beginning of a
disease process or cancerous growth:
- Red or white areas or patches on the mouth mucosa
(called erythroplasia or leukoplakia)
- Chronic sore throat or changes in speech
- Swallowing or chewing difficulties
- Slowly healing or non-healing sores
- Areas that bleed easily
- Lumps, bumps or thickening of the lining (mucosa) inside
the mouth
The above
changes can be seen anywhere in and about the mouth. Look on the
lips, cheeks, roof of the mouth, gum tissue around the teeth,
tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does not necessarily occur with
pathology and is not often connected with oral cancer in its
early stages. Any patient with face or mouth pain without an
obvious cause may be at risk for oral cancer.
We recommend
patients perform a self-examination regularly (at least monthly)
because your mouth is one of the body's early warning systems.
Do not ignore lumps or sores.
If you have
any questions and/or concerns or are suspicious about any
“disease” areas or have any of the above symptoms in the
mouth, please do not hesitate to contact Oral Facial Surgery
Institute so we may be of some assistance to you.
The Oral Facial Surgery Institute
has four convenient locations to meet your needs.
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