Oral Pathology / Biopsy

An oral pathology is an abnormality or change in the tissues of the oral cavity, which includes the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, palate, and the floor of the mouth.  Oral pathology can present as a variety of different signs and symptoms, ranging from benign conditions to potentially malignant or cancerous growths. These lesions may be caused by various factors, including infections, inflammation, trauma, systemic diseases, or neoplastic (tumor) growths. 

Many oral pathology needs to be biopsied. A biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of tissue is taken from the body for examination under a microscope. Biopsies are commonly performed to diagnose or rule out various conditions, including cancer, and inflammatory diseases. 

After receiving the diagnosis of the oral lesion, the next steps will depend on several factors, including the diagnosis itself, its location, and size. No further treatment may be needed, only monitoring may be needed, additional procedures may be required or you may need to be referred somewhere else. Your oral surgeon will discuss the next steps with you after the biopsy result is back.