Oral Pathology & Jaw Surgery in Dawsonville, GA
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Did you know…
Oral pathology takes your whole-body health into consideration.
What to expect: The oral pathology process
Consultation
To begin, you will sit down with your doctor for a one-on-one consultation. They will carefully examine your mouth and look for any signs or lesions, abnormalities, or oral health concerns.
Treatment Planning
After examining your mouth, your Dawsonville doctor will explain their findings with you and develop a custom treatment plan that accommodates your unique needs, lifestyle, and budget.
Sedation Options
If you will be undergoing oral surgery to remove potential oral health concerns, your doctor may explore your sedation options with you. Sedation is a great way to stay comfortable and calm throughout any treatment, even if you have dental anxiety.
Follow Up Visits
After your treatment plan has been decided upon and you are ready to proceed with treatment, our team will schedule any necessary follow up visits with you on a timeline that works with your schedule. We will work together to get your oral health back on track, one step at a time!
Healing & Aftercare
If your treatment plan involves biopsies or oral surgeries, plan to give yourself a few days to heal after surgery. It is normal to experience some swelling and discomfort during the first 24 hours after your procedure. You can use ice packs to reduce swelling and take any medications as directed by your doctor to mitigate your discomfort. Be sure to stick to a soft food diet for the first 48 hours after surgery.
Common oral pathology procedures
Soft Tissue Biopsy
If your oral pathologist detects any signs or abnormalities during your oral exam, they may require a soft tissue biopsy. Biopsies help them better understand what is going on beneath the surface so they can provide an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will clean and numb the site, make a small incision to remove the tissue sample, and send it to a lab for further evaluation. Soft tissue biopsies and be used to catch oral health concerns like oral cancer early while they are still easily treatable.
Mole Removal
Moles are extra growths on the skin that can be unsightly and in some cases, uncomfortable or bothersome. Oral pathologists can remove moles for cosmetic reasons and to improve your comfort, but it is usually also recommended to do a biopsy on this tissue to ensure it is benign. To remove a mole, your oral pathologist will simply clean and numb the treatment site and make an incision to remove the excess tissue. You will heal quickly after your mole removal, but be sure to keep the area clean and follow your doctor’s instructions throughout the healing process.
Benign Tumor & Cyst Removal
Some patients are surprised to learn that the mouth is one of the most common areas where tumors and lesions grow. Oral pathologists can identify these tumors and cysts and provide you with crucial information as to whether or not they are benign or malignant. However, even if they are benign, it is usually recommended to remove them so they don’t continue to grow. Your Dawsonville doctor will ensure you stay comfortable with numbing and sedation options during the removal process. They will also provide you with a set of detailed instructions to guide you during the healing process.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery is also sometimes referred to as corrective jaw surgery and involves shifting the bones of the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. This procedure is used to correct severe bite issues and provide you with a more aesthetically pleasing smile. When the jaws and teeth don’t match up correctly, corrective jaw surgery will reposition the jaws so that the teeth meet correctly. This can, in turn, improve chewing function and encourage proper speech, and breathing. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea, TMD, and other related oral health concerns may also be able to benefit from orthognathic surgery.
Did you know…
Oral pathologists can help identify oral cancer while it is still easily treatable.
Have questions about oral pathology? Find answers here.
What’s an oral pathologist?
An oral pathologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating oral and dental health concerns. Oral pathologists take into consideration your personal health history and your current health to get a full spectrum of your overall wellness. During your consultation in Dawsonville, your doctor will carefully evaluate your oral health in order to make accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans.
What is orthognathic surgery?
Orthognathic surgery is a corrective procedure that shifts a misaligned jaw bone into the proper position. This promotes good oral health as well as whole-body health. After undergoing corrective jaw surgery, patients are able to speak, breathe, chew, and bite properly. During the procedure, your doctor will make incisions behind your molars to create more mobility. From there, they will move your jaw into the proper position. Biocompatible plates and screws may be placed to ensure your jaw stays in the new placement and promote proper healing.
Do I need orthognathic surgery?
There are many reasons a patient may need orthognathic surgery. If you have a severe overbite or underbite, an open bite, a protruding jaw, breathing problems, speech problems, or chronic jaw pain (TMD), you may be a good candidate for corrective jaw surgery. Also, patients with obstructive sleep apnea or chronic snoring may be able to benefit from orthognathic jaw surgery. If you’ve been dealing with any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling a consultation as soon as possible.
Am I a good candidate for oral pathology?
In short, most everyone can benefit from oral pathology at some point in their lives. Oral pathology is essentially the practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing oral health issues, big and small. By seeing an oral pathologist, you will be able to stay on top of your oral health and prevent larger issues down the line.
Is oral pathology covered by insurance?
In some cases, your insurance provider may cover all or a portion of your treatment. This depends on your policy’s coverage. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your dental insurance plan, but we recommend that you get in touch with your insurance provider to see if your recommended oral surgery, biopsy, or other treatment is covered. It may also be a good idea to file your claim with both your dental insurance provider and your medical insurance provider, as the surgery may qualify as a medically necessary procedure.
Did you know…
Oral cancer often presents as a tiny sore or white spot in the mouth.