Glenbrook Oral Surgery News & Info

Glenview Oral Surgery, Glenbrook Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, offers Oral Pathology services, below are more details:

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.

Early diagnosis and management are the keys to properly dealing with areas of oral pathology.  Our office is committed to the early diagnosis and treatment of all types of oral pathology.  We have a tremendous amount of clinical experience in identifying potentially problematic areas.  In addition to this, we utilize the most up to date technology for earlier and more accurate diagnosis.  These include:

1. Velscope – the only FDA approved system designed to identify the potential presence of malignant or pre-malignant lesions that are not visible to the naked eye. 
2. Brush Biopsy – a non-invasive method of assessing the presence of abnormal cells in a particular area of the oral mucosa.

Using these adjuncts, we feel that we are uniquely qualified to identify and manage any areas of abnormality in your mouth in the earliest possible time frame.