What is oral pathology?
Oral pathology evaluates lesions, growths, and other abnormalities in the mouth, lips, and jaws. When a suspicious finding is identified, a brief in-office biopsy under local anesthesia produces a definitive diagnosis from a board-certified oral pathologist, typically within five to ten business days.
What we evaluate
Any persistent lesion, ulcer, white or red patch, lump, or change in the soft tissues of the mouth, lips, or throat. Bony lesions seen on x-ray. Suspicious findings in the salivary glands. Unexplained pain or numbness in the jaw.
Most of what we see is benign — but distinguishing the benign from the precancerous from the malignant requires biopsy and microscopic diagnosis.
How a biopsy works
In most cases, the biopsy is a brief in-office procedure under local anesthesia. We remove a small piece of tissue (incisional biopsy) or, when appropriate, the entire lesion (excisional biopsy), and send it to a board-certified oral pathologist.
You’ll have a few small dissolvable stitches and minimal discomfort. We call you with results within 5–10 business days and develop a treatment plan based on the diagnosis.
When findings are concerning
If the pathology shows precancer or cancer, we coordinate next steps quickly — often referring to an oncologic surgeon or head-and-neck specialist for definitive treatment. You won’t be navigating this alone. Most early-stage oral cancers, when caught early, have excellent outcomes.
Common questions
How quickly can I be seen?
For new findings flagged by another provider, we usually see patients within the same week. Call us and tell our front desk it’s a pathology referral.
Will the biopsy hurt?
Local anesthesia makes the procedure itself painless. Some mild soreness afterward is normal and resolves in a few days.