Diagnosing and Treating Oral Pathology

With an MD in dentistry and medicine from the University of Louisville, Dr. Christopher C. Babcock is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Louisville Oral Surgery and Dental Implants in Louisville, KY. Christopher C. Babcock, MD’s responsibilities include removing wisdom teeth, placing dental implants, and diagnosing and treating oral pathology.

Oral pathology, also known as maxillofacial pathology, is a branch of dentistry that deals with detecting, diagnosing, and managing diseases and conditions affecting the mouth. This includes jaw cysts, salivary gland tumors, ulcers, Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (BRONJ), red or white lesions, and skin cancer.

An oral pathologist will investigate the causes and effects of these diseases. They will also evaluate the condition of the patient’s mouth and put together a treatment plan to prevent the condition from worsening and to treat the underlying cause. This may include a full oral examination and biopsies if necessary.

Depending on the problem, the oral surgeon may remove the full lesion or just a part of it. A specialist laboratory will then evaluate the specimen to produce a diagnosis. The patient will then be informed of the diagnosis, and a detailed treatment plan will be put together.

If a patient has any oral and maxillofacial disease condition, their dentist may refer them to a specialist oral pathologist. This includes things like oral cancer, which need to be investigated early on to prevent delays in treatment. Signs that a patient should consider visiting an oral pathologist for diagnosis and treatment include patches in the mouth that are red or white, sores in the mouth that bleed and do not heal, lumps in the gums or inside the mouth, a constant sore throat, or problems with swallowing or eating.