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.
The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:
- 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
These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, and tongue. 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. We would recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly and remember that your mouth is one of your body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we may help.
We know that oral cancer claims one life every hour in the United States, and the survival rate has barely changed over the last 40 years. Since the signs and symptoms or oral cancer are often missed by the naked eye, the disease is usually detected late in development, when the mortality rate is 50%. When found early, oral cancer patients have a nearly 90% survival rate. This is the reason we have incorporated technologically advanced screening tools into our practice. The system we use screens for oral lesions that may lead to cancer just as mammograms screen for breast cancer. The test we use is a chemical-luminescent light that helps the dentist see what he might not otherwise be able to see. The procedure is simple, painless and non-invasive. We recommend performing the exam annually.
Biopsies
Oral sores, lesions, or growths that will not heal, may be a sign of other medical conditions. Biopies are performed in our office under local anesthesia, The specimen is sent to a pathologist for a confirmation of the diagnosis. The results are generally available within twenty-four hours. Since being in practice Dr. Mazratian has diagnosed several cases of oral cancer. Therefore, it is always best not to delay treatment.
