Maxillofacial Pathology

Oral Surgeons are routinely called upon to diagnose and treat lesions afflicting the face, neck, mouth and jaw bones. While most conditions are benign, it takes an astute clinician to examine and establish a proper diagnosis with an appropriate treatment plan.

Soft tissue lesions are usually traumatic (irritants) (e.g. biting injury), autoimmune (when one’s immune system sees the patient’s cells as foreign), viral (herpetic type lesions) or malignant (oral cancer).

Traumatic lesions can be simple ulcerations, mucoceles (minor salivary gland trauma), fibrous polyps etc. These conditions are easily diagnosed with clinical exam and confirmed with biopsy.

Autoimmune conditions such as Pemphigus, Pemphigoid and Lichen Planus can present as blisters and non-healing painful ulcerations. Such conditions require timely diagnosis in order to potentially prevent systemic complications and establish control of the disease. Often the treatment is coordinated with medical specialists in the area of dermatology and ophthalmology.

Oral cancer is diagnosed annually in ~30,000 patients in the United States. Early diagnosis and referral to head and neck surgeons and oncologists for definitive treatment leads to much improved survival rates among those patients.

Lesions of the jaws are quite common and are mostly comprise of benign cysts and occasionally tumors. Most of those lesions can be simply removed. However, there are larger and more aggressive lesions such as Odontogenic Keratocysts and Ameloblastomas which may require extensive surgical treatment.

In our practice we have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating an extensive range of oral pathology. Our affiliation with major New York hospital centers allows us to be able to treat more complicated cases using the latest technology in a controlled environment. We also have a close working relationship with some of the finest oral pathologists and head and neck surgeons in the greater NY area. We feel confident in our ability to provide patients with the appropriate level of care that their condition may demand.