Tag: Oral Diseases

What Are the Most Common Dental Diseases That an Oral Pathologist Treats?

Most general dentists can identify, manage, and treat some of the most common dental diseases in their early stages. However, oral cancer, one of the most common dental diseases, and other complex or advanced infections and concerns must be treated by a specialist. At Hill Country Oral Surgery, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons are oral pathologists who specialize in the detection and treatment of disease and infection. Oral pathologists treat common dental diseases, including oral cancer, recurrent root canal infections, and abscesses.

If you are concerned about oral cancer or other complex oral health concerns, schedule your consultation with one of the board-certified oral surgeons in Buda, TX at Hill Country Oral Surgery. With the right care team, you can achieve the oral health you deserve.

What Is an Oral Pathologist?

An oral pathologist is a dentist who has received an additional year and a half of advanced specialist education to become an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases that affect the teeth, gums, joints, skin, and muscles around your mouth and face. At Hill Country Oral Surgery, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons are not only uniquely qualified to manage complex surgical cases but are also oral pathologists trained to diagnose and manage advanced or complex dental issues and infections, including oral cancers.

Common Dental Diseases Oral Pathologists Treat

One of the most common dental diseases that oral pathologists treat is oral cancer. However, not everyone with a dental disease will need to see an oral pathologist. Most general dentists are trained to manage the early stages of common dental diseases like gingivitis, cavities, and root canal infections. As such, for many of those common dental diseases, you will only need the guidance of your general dentist. The oral health concerns you would see our oral pathologists for include:

Oral Cancer Treatment in Austin, TX

Most general dentists include an oral cancer screening as a standard part of their exams. However, as soon as oral cancer is suspected, it is imperative to get a diagnosis from an oral pathologist or oncologist as soon as possible. Our oral pathologists will perform an examination and take the appropriate tests, including biopsies, to make a diagnosis.

If you have been referred to an oral pathologist for further investigation or treatment of oral cancer, it’s important to know that you will be under uniquely qualified care and have a compassionate team working hard to give you the best treatment.

Symptoms Commonly Associated with Dental Diseases

As oral pathologists, we commonly diagnose and treat oral cancer and other complex or advanced infections. Some common symptoms that you should be on the lookout for include:

  • Pus
  • Pain that won’t go away
  • Red or bleeding gums
  • Bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
  • Swelling in the jaw and/or mouth
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Fever
  • Spots or patches within the mouth
  • Lumps or bumps within the mouth
  • Canker sore that won’t go away

Some dental infections do require urgent medical attention. Always call your dentist for an emergency appointment and make sure you don’t need to go to the emergency room first.

How Are Dental Diseases Diagnosed?

Oral pathologists use additional imaging equipment, like CT scans, and take biopsies to identify infected or cancerous tissue. Some general steps you can expect during your consultation include:

  • A thorough physical exam of the visible tissues
  • X-Rays
  • CT scan
  • Biopsy

How Are Dental Diseases Treated?

The treatment you receive for your condition is dependent on the dental disease you’re dealing with. As oral pathologists and board-certified oral maxillofacial surgeons, our Austin, TX oral surgeons often treat conditions with more extensive measures including chemotherapy and specialized surgery.

Cancer Treatment

Depending on the stage and type of oral cancer, oral cancer treatment in Austin, TX may include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation.

Apicoectomy

When initial root canal therapy is not enough to treat the established infection, you will need an apicoectomy, or root-end surgery, which is a second root canal therapy and is often the last option for saving your natural tooth.

Surgery and Extraction

In a perfect world, everyone would get to keep their natural teeth for their lifetime. Unfortunately, teeth sometimes need to be removed due to infection, impaction, trauma, or decay. Our board-certified oral surgeons specialize not only in removing teeth but also in replacing and repairing oral structures with implants and bone grafts.

Medication

As with other bacterial or fungal infections present in the body, you may need antibiotics or antifungal medication.

Why See an Oral Surgeon or Oral Pathologist for Dental Diseases?

While many common dental diseases can be treated by your general dentist, serious or complex concerns like recurrent root canal infections, oral cancer, extensive tooth decay, and infection, or dental trauma require treatment from your board-certified oral surgeon. Seeing an oral pathologist just means that you are getting more specialized care from a team uniquely qualified to treat exactly what it is you are dealing with.

Compassionate Care for Complex Oral Health Issues

At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we understand that needing an oral pathologist means that you are already in a space where more intensive dental care is necessary. For people who are battling dental anxiety or emotional turmoil because of the state of their appearance or oral health, this stress is naturally exacerbated. Here, we are committed to creating a judgment-free space for people to come to for help in some of their most vulnerable moments. Our primary goal is to restore a healthy smile that helps you feel good about yourself again, and when you show up to our office, you will always be met with the compassionate and expert care you deserve.

Your Austin, TX Oral Pathologist

You lead with your smile, and if oral health concerns are getting in the way of your quality of life, it’s time to seek out help. A smile can change the world, so why shouldn’t it be yours? Call Hill Country Oral Surgery at 512-327-7233 or request a consultation online for the compassionate and expert care you need to achieve the oral health you deserve.