Oral Pathology in Encino, CA
The appearance of your intraoral tissues can be very telling about your oral health. Healthy soft tissues are smooth and pink. However, when certain oral health issues develop, changes occur. While these changes may not be anything at all, they can also indicate a serious complication. Encino Cosmetic Dentistry can help to diagnose the cause of the changes in your intraoral tissues, and provide you with the treatment you need, with oral pathology.
What Pathological Diseases Can Affect Your Mouth?Oral pathology allows us to diagnose a wide variety of oral conditions, both benign and malignant. With an appropriate diagnosis, we can then provide you with the effective treatment you need to restore your oral health. Pathological diseases we can diagnose include: | • |
Canker sores and cold sores.
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Halitosis.
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Leukoplakia, or patches of excess cell growth.
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Oral thrush. This is a yeast infection that can cause white patches on your intraoral tissues.
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Hairy tongue.
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Geographic tongue.
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Issues with the salivary glands that can lead to dry mouth.
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Cysts, such as median palatal cysts.
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Oral cancer. Oral cancer is the most dangerous pathological condition and can be fatal without early diagnosis and treatment. |
How are Pathological Diseases Diagnosed?When you notice an abnormality or unusual growth on your intraoral tissues, it is important to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. While the growth may be nothing at all, it can also indicate a potentially serious issue. The earlier the issue is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat.
To diagnose pathological diseases, we need to perform a thorough oral exam. In addition to visually examining your mouth, we also take images. These images might include x-rays or 3D CT scans. We may also perform a soft tissue biopsy. This is a procedure that requires the removal of a small portion of tissue from the abnormality or growth in your mouth so that we can examine it on the cellular level.
Soft tissue biopsies are especially helpful in diagnosing or ruling out, the presence of oral cancer. Once we have diagnosed the condition affecting your mouth, we are then able to provide you with a treatment plan to restore your oral health.
Treatment Options for Pathological DiseasesThere are a variety of different treatment options for pathological diseases. The exact treatment you receive will depend upon your diagnosis. Common treatments include: | • |
Antibiotics. These may include either oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics. These are prescribed to help fight off infections.
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Prescription mouthwash. If your pathological disease has been caused by poor oral hygiene practices, you may be prescribed a special mouthwash to use in conjunction with improved oral hygiene. When combined with regular brushing and flossing, a prescription mouthwash can help to eliminate the infection and restore the health of your mouth.
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Surgery. In some cases, oral surgery may be recommended. Surgery can remove both benign as well as malignant growths. Removing cancerous growths in their earliest stages can help to stop the spread of cancer, restoring your oral health and preventing serious consequences. If surgery to remove a cancerous growth does not stop the spread, further treatment will be required. |
Any changes in your intraoral tissues should be examined right away. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call Encino Cosmetic Dentistry at (818) 783-0408 today. |
