A Guide to Diagnosis for Oral Pathology

Description

Oral Pathology is the study of disorders of the mouth ("oral cavity," or "stoma"), jaws ("maxillae" or "gnath"), and other structures such as salivary glands, temporomandibular joints, face muscles, and perioral skin (the skin around the mouth). The mouth is a vital organ with several functions. It is also prone to a number of medical and dental conditions. Oral and maxillofacial pathology is concerned with the diagnosis and investigation of the causes and consequences of illnesses affecting the oral and maxillofacial area. It is sometimes considered a branch of dentistry or pathology. The term head and neck pathology is often used instead, however this may indicate that the pathologist also treats otorhinolaryngologic (ear, nose, and throat) issues in addition to maxillofacial illnesses. There is some overlap in this function between the expertise of head and neck pathologists and that of endocrine pathologists. Lesions involving the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity are regularly seen by the dental professional. The majority of these disorders do not provide a diagnostic challenge to the dental surgeon. However, the clinical dentist is occasionally confronted with a lesion, the diagnosis of which is not only difficult but also influences the choice of therapy. This book incorporates contributions from a number of foreign specialists and takes a symptom- and disease-oriented approach. It discusses orofacial pain syndromes, common tooth and gum disorders, oral mucosal white patches, blisters, ulcers, wart-like lesions, and soft tissue lumps and swellings.