What is oral pathology?

Oral pathology deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is a science that investigates the causes, processes and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral and maxillofacial pathology includes research, diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical or other examinations, and in many instances the management of patients.

Management of oral and maxillofacial pathology

Biopsy
Removal of pathologic or diseased hard or soft tissues affecting the oral and facial regions. Often times only a portion of tissue is taken for microscopic identification or when the diseased tissue is large or the entire portion of pathologic tissue is taken.

Disease or pathology specimens are usually evaluated for definitive diagnosis by a pathologist.

Reconstruction
After the pathology is removed, hard or soft tissue structures of the oral or facial region may need to be reconstructed with grafts of hard or soft tissue, bone grafts, dental implants or prosthesis.