Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Houston, Tx
Many people are not aware of the serious problems that can occur in the face and neck area. Each year millions of people are not screened for oral cancers. Of those who do get screenings, close to 50,000 will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer. Dr. Millwala at Vintage Oral Surgery has the expertise and knowledge to diagnose the various pathologic lesions of the mouth. Some are benign and some are dangerous and must be evaluated by an oral pathologist.
Dr. Millwala will thoroughly evaluate the oral cavity and maxillofacial area and make recommendations.
Some questionable areas or abnormalities may require a surgical procedure to obtain a specimen for biopsy. Diagnosis will depend on what the biopsy reveals. Testing is done to rule out more severe diseases such as oral cancer.
Not all abnormalities in the head or neck area indicate cancer. However, it is important to have any bumps, lumps or lesions examined to rule out any serious problems. Risk factors for oral cancer include:
- Using tobacco, snuff, chew or smokeless tobacco
- Using alcohol
- Having HPV (human papillomavirus)
- Having a weakened immune system
Using alcohol while using tobacco increases the risk factor for oral or throat cancer.
Oral cancer is also affecting younger people who have been diagnosed with HPV. In fact, these individuals are 30 times more likely to be diagnosed with oral cancer even if they have never used tobacco products or alcohol.
There are warning signs to look for and if you notice any of these signs, you should contact Dr. Millwala right away. Warning signs of head and neck cancer:
- A lump or sore throat that does not heal
- Chronic sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness or change of voice that lasts longer than a couple of weeks
You can do a monthly oral cancer check on yourself by feeling for any anomalies like bumps or lumps or sores that don’t heal located on the soft tissues of your mouth. Also check your neck for bumps or lumps.
If you find anything unusual, be sure to schedule an appointment to have an oral examination.