What is oral pathology?

Oral pathology focuses on identifying and treating diseases that affect the oral and maxillofacial regions. Many diseases and pathological processes may affect the mouth and the most serious of these is oral cancer. While oral cancer can often be successfully treated when detected early, many cases of oral cancer are not diagnosed until the condition has progressed into a more advanced stage that is more difficult to treat. Oral cancer may even be life threatening. Dr. Daniel Cannon and our team at Cannon Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery are committed to helping you stay healthy and will check for any abnormal symptoms during your oral evaluation. The following are common signs of the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:

• A lump, thickening, rough spot, or eroded area on the lips, face, gums, or other areas in the mouth
• A chronic sore throat or hoarseness
• Difficult or painful chewing, swallowing, or moving the tongue or jaw
• Reddish patches (erythroplasia), whitish patches (leukoplakia), or speckled white and red patches in the mouth
• A sore on the face, neck, or mouth that does not heal within two weeks and bleeds easily
• Unexplained numbness or loss of feeling in the face, neck, or any part of the mouth

If you notice any change in the appearance or feeling of your face, neck, or mouth, we encourage you to contact our oral surgeon at 918-743-1351 for more information about oral pathology in Tulsa, Oklahoma.