Oral Pathology
The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.
Signs to look for:
- Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth.
- A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily.
- A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth.
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing.
- Facial lumps, abnormal scars, growth.
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. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.
Facial pathology – can occur at any age and may have multiple forms. Any suspicious lesion should be evaluated.
We would recommend performing an oral / facial cancer self-examination monthly and remember that your mouth and your face is one of your body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores, a simple biopsy can often be done to obtain a diagnosis. Please contact us so we may help.