Oral Pathology

The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance (a “lesion”) could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.

The following can be signs of a lesion:

• Red or white patches in the mouth.
• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
• A lump or thickening on the mucosa lining inside of the mouth
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
• Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
• Unexplained swelling
• Numbness of the lips and chin not attributable to another cause

These changes may be detected on the lips, tongue, gums, and mucosal lining in your mouth. Pain does not always occur with pathology.

If you have any of the above signs, you should have your dentist perform an exam, or contact us so we can perform an examination. If indicated, we will perform a biopsy to obtain a diagnosis.