Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology – Fair Oaks, CA
Fast-Acting Solutions to Keep You Healthy
When you think of oral health issues, you may think of standard ones like cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. Although those are certainly common, your mouth can develop more serious problems like tumors and cysts on the bones and skin. If you ever notice a growth in your mouth, Dr. Sheng Ji, DDS and the rest of the team are prepared to help with oral and maxillofacial pathology in Fair Oaks. To learn more about our treatments, continue reading or give us a call today !
Bone Cyst & Tumor Treatment
Wisdom teeth often need to be removed because they cause cysts to develop on the bone around them, which can easily be identified on dental X-rays. Aside from removing these third sets of molars, we can simultaneously take out any cysts. Should any tumors form on the jawbone, we can remove those as well to prevent complications down the line.
Skin Cyst & Tumor Treatment
Do you have cysts or tumors in your mouth, jaw, or neck region? They can be quite painful and unsightly. Luckily, you don’t have to live with them for the rest of your life. You should make an appointment with our team if you notice a growth on or near your lips, cheeks, gums, or throat. We can remove it with a short surgical procedure that only takes one appointment to complete! During your appointment, we’ll diagnose what the growth is to determine if any other treatment is needed.
Salivary Gland Cyst & Tumor Treatment
A healthy smile needs to have fully functioning salivary glands. Unfortunately, there are certain conditions that can cause you to develop cysts and tumors, leading to discomfort and decreased saliva production. If that happens, you may suffer from dry mouth and an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. To address the issue, we’ll remove any growths on your salivary glands to get them back to normal.
Treating Oral & Maxillofacial Infections
Oral infections are incredibly dangerous because the bacteria can easily enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, causing severe damage. Luckily, our practice has the technology and expertise to identify these infections early on. That way, we can surgically remove dead tissue to keep the problem from spreading. We’ll do everything we can to restore your oral health while safeguarding your overall health!
Oral Pathology FAQs
How Does Oral Pathology Work?
Oral pathology is a specialized discipline within oral surgery that focuses on identifying, treating, and managing diseases of the oral cavity. We look into the causes, symptoms, and effects or oral disease, include disorder the affect the teeth, jawbone, gums, skin, and muscles of the mouth. By diagnosing oral diseases early, including oral cancer, we can work toward a successful treatment.
What Are the Signs of Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is a common danger that oral pathology helps us to detect and keep track of. Oral cancer includes cancers of any part of the mouth and throat tissue. Signs can vary, but often include lumps, ulcers, lesions, discomfort, and other oral tissue concerns. During your routine checkups with your dentist, they will be on the lookout for abnormalities that could indicate oral cancer. If you notice any changes in your mouth, it is best to bring them up with your dentist to make sure something serious isn’t going on.
Why Is Oral Pathology Important?
It is difficult to see the inside of the mouth, so many people who develop oral cancer and other conditions in the oral cavity are unaware of the initial issue. Regular oral cancer screening and at-home inspections of the inside of the mouth can help to detect issues early so they are easier to treat. Some symptoms can indicate issues other than oral cancer that can be treated with appropriate medications. If you wait too long, treatment can become more difficult, and some disease can advance and result in permanent damage or even spread to other areas. Oral pathology helps us to get to the root of issues so they can be addressed quickly and as effectively as possible. This gives patients the best chance of making a full recovery.
What Are Some Signs That I Need an Oral Pathology Exam?
Here are some signs and symptoms that may indicate oral pathology and require a screening:
- Bumps or lumps in or around the mouth
- Sores that worsen or don’t completely heal
- Unexplained bleeding of the gums, tongue, or lips
- Bad breath or a bad taste that doesn’t subside
- Patches of red or white in the mouth
Am I At Risk of Oral Cancer?
Anyone can get oral cancer, but there are some risk factors that can increase your probability of developing it. Here are some of the most common ones.
- Having Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
- Use of tobacco products
- Excessive alcohol usage
- Overexposure to UV light
- Excessive body weight
- Men are twice as likely to develop oral cancer
What are the most common diseases related to oral pathology?
Some of the most common diseases we see during an oral pathology exam are thrush, “black hairy tongue,” and oral cancer.
Thrush is a fungal growth that can cause white patches or red bumps to form near the mouth, lips, or cheeks. Fortunately, it can be treated fairly easily in most cases with an antifungal agent.
The tongue can take on a black, fuzzy appearance if an excessive amount of dead skin cells collect on the surface. It can be alarming to see in the mirror and can cause discomfort, but brushing the tongue on a regular basis is typically enough to eliminate the issue.
Oral cancer can be more complicated. When identified early, treatment is usually successful. But once oral cancer reaches more advanced stages, it becomes more difficult to address. That’s why it’s so important to perform a screening at every checkup.
How often should I have an oral cancer screening?
About every six months – which is convenient, considering oral cancer screenings are usually performed during biannual checkups and cleanings.
You can also check for oral cancer at home, though it’s important to note this may not be as accurate as having a professional exam. You’ll essentially check for discoloration, raised patches of skin, and tenderness.
Pull back your lip, stick your tongue out to inspect it from all sides, tilt your head back to view the roof of your mouth, and pull the skin of your cheeks outward so you can see the inside more clearly. To check oral areas that can’t be seen, such as the jaw and neck, use your fingers and gently palpate your jawline and throat. Asymmetry in how the area feels, swelling, or lumps could indicate that you need an oral pathology exam.
How serious is oral cancer?
Though it is typically easy to treat early-on, advanced oral cancer can be deadly. The American Cancer Society estimates that 60,480 new cases of oral cancer develop each year, and that it causes about 13,150 deaths per year. So it’s safe to say that oral cancer is a serious condition. Any signs and symptoms should be addressed as soon as possible, before the disease has time to spread and become more complicated.
What happens if oral pathology indicates cancer?
If we notice signs of oral cancer during your oral pathology exam, we’ll take a sample of the affected area to send it to a specialist for testing. Note that this doesn’t automatically mean you have oral cancer – it simply means we’d like to get more information. Some tumors are completely benign, meaning they’re non-cancerous.
If a cancer diagnosis is made, we’ll discuss the best way to go about your treatment plan. This may include referring you to an oncologist (cancer specialist).
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