You use your mouth to smile, laugh, sing, chew, swallow, and speak – considering its constant activity, an occasional irritation, discomfort, or abrasion is not uncommon. However, figuring out whether a change in your mouth is benign or something that requires attention is often difficult – if not impossible – for patients to determine on their own. More interesting is that many changes in your mouth may occur without your knowledge. To protect your smile and oral health, we rely on oral pathology to diagnose diseases of your mouth and supportive structures. Fortunately, this often allows us to detect and treat changes early on in their progression. Wondering how this field of dentistry may help you? Learn more with the following information:
Why It’s Important
Oral pathology is so important because it allows us to safeguard your smile and your tissues. We recognize that thinking about illness or disease is something you would probably like to avoid. However, we encourage six-month dental checkups as well as visits if you feel like something isn’t right. The sooner we detect abnormalities, the greater our ability becomes to provide successful treatment, so you can avoid significant damage. In the case of severe problems like oral cancer, oral pathology may save your life.
What To Look For
We will do a significant amount of the looking for you during your twice annual checkups, so you may rest assured that you do not have to feel stressed about missing a change on your own. However, if you notice one or more of the following, we encourage you to schedule a visit right away, so we can take a look at what is happening in your mouth and throat:
- Sores
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Infection
- Discolored splotches, particularly white or red patches
- Sudden discomfort or pain while chewing
- Dry mouth
- Trouble clearing your throat or speaking without sounding hoarse
ABOUT YOUR CERRITOS ORAL SURGEON:
Dr. Shawn Hofkes and the staff at Cerritos Dental Surgery are highly qualified to address complex issues, including those that require oral surgery to correct. To schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Hofkes, contact us today by calling 562-584-4082. We proudly serve patients of all ages from Cerritos, Lakewood, Long Beach, Buena Park, and all surrounding communities.
