Oral Pathology

Identify & Manage Oral Disease

Oral pathology refers to any change from a normal, healthy condition and includes everything from a lesion or a growth to cancer. Any changes in the health of your mouth or jaws require an immediate evaluation.

Diseases or infections affecting the mouth, jaws, or related structures are referred to as oral pathology. Oral pathologies can range from a simple canker sore to a much more serious disease, such as oral cancer. Dr. Nedbalski and Dr. Luter are specially trained to identify and treat oral pathologies and can form a treatment plan to get your oral health back on track.

The mucosa is the lining of the mouth that, when healthy, is smooth and coral pink in color. Any changes to the mucosa should be addressed with a dental health professional, like an experienced oral surgeon, as soon as possible. Pathological processes that are caught early are often treated more easily.

Signs of Oral Cancer and Disease

Call our practice if you notice any changes to your mouth, including:

• Bleeding sores, or sores that fail to heal
• Persistent or recurrent swelling
• Red or white patches on the gums, tongue, or cheeks
• Lump in the mouth or neck
• A chronic sore throat or persistent hoarseness
• An earache that won’t go away
• Pain with no identifiable cause

For your oral health, it is strongly recommended to attend regular checkups. Many oral pathologies do not have pain or other associated symptoms in their early stages. If you notice something that is unusual for your tongue, tonsils, salivary glands, cheeks, lips, palate, or gums, we encourage you to call Boulder Oral Surgery for prompt evaluation.

Treating Oral Pathology

When you come to Boulder Oral Surgery with a suspected oral pathology, a biopsy of the area in question may be taken. A biopsy usually involves taking a small tissue sample that a pathologist will examine for diagnosis. Your oral surgeon can then proceed with the appropriate course of treatment based on the diagnosis.

Many changes that occur in and around the mouth are not serious but should be evaluated by an experienced oral surgeon, such as Dr. Nedbalski or Dr. Luter, to rule out a more serious condition. If you notice any changes to your oral and maxillofacial area, please contact our practice for an appointment. We will make every effort to see you as soon as possible.