Commonwealth Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Associates

Oral Surgery

Cambridge, MA

617-492-8700

Procedures

• Dental Implants
• Bone Grafting
  • Overview
  • Jawbone Health
  • Jawbone Loss and Deterioration
  • About Bone Grafting
  • Ridge Augmentation
  • Sinus Lift
  • Nerve Repositioning
  • Socket Preservation
• Wisdom Teeth
• Facial Trauma
• Jaw Surgery
• Pre-prosthetic Surgery
• Distraction Osteogenesis
• Oral Pathology
• TMJ Disorders
• Sleep Apnea
• Cleft Lip & Palate
• Impacted Canines

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, 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.

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.