Oral Pathology: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects
Last Updated: Jan 20, 2025
What is the treatment?
Oral pathology refers to diseases concerned with the mouth. It is basically a scientific study on the entire process of disease that is limited to our facial area. Narrowing the area results in an advantage of the doctor in proper diagnosis and thus reducing the probability of indecent diagnosis. Some of the common diseases that fall under the branch of oral pathology are dental issue, oral cancer, bacterial or fungal infection, periodontal problems and many more. The most common disease under oral pathology is the dental issues. Almost 90% of the population suffer from teeth cavities both in early and adult stages of life. Added to that, oral cancer is often the result of tobacco and alcohol consumption. Research speaks, oral pathology indicates a dentist profession that primarily deals with malfunctioning in teeth; severe cavity issues and specific areas beside the neck and head.
However, oral cancel around the head and the neck position are very rare (5% of cancer every year). Some of the symptoms of oral pathology that sounds alerting includes white or reddish patches, lump like object inside the mouth, acute problem in swallowing or difficulty while eating and severe sore throat. Even if you notice a sore that refuses to heal from a long time, you must opt for a doctor’s advice. If you are experiencing relatable symptoms and neglecting it, you are welcoming severe risks.
How is the treatment done?
Oral pathology is a broad sphere that covers all diseases around the dimension of mouth, around the head and the neck. The most common segment of oral pathology includes general dental problem like treating cavities, tooth loss, Oro-dental trauma and cleft lip and palate in patients. However, it is always recommended to have an oral exam (a comprehensive dental check-up) at frequent intervals.
If you find a change in the colour texture of your tongue, you are likely to consult an oral pathologist. This is because the change in colour of the mucosa indicates inception of pathological disease. One of the most severe pathologic malfunctionings is oral cancer that is extremely painful. Oral cancer exam is referred to the patient in order to get a proper diagnosis of a disease related to maxillofacial and other oral regions.
A common pathological disease well-known in different names like geographic tongue, Benign Migratory glossitis and even Erythema Migrans deals with the condition where the tongue experiences lack papillae (small structural bumps) in some portions. Your tongue may also take a map- like look. This tends to recover with time and takes around hours or even months of time to disappear. You are likely to face more sensitivity to certain items due to Erythema Migrans. Added to that, diseases like Medical Palatal cyst (a skin sac filled with fluid in the middle of the palate.)and hairy tongue ( a fungal infection that darkens the colour of the tongue and often ends in the growth of hair)comprises of other pathological disease penetrating in the regions of the human mouth.
The primary step of any oral pathologist is to refer an oral test to the patient. This helps the doctor to sketch a proper diagnosis of the oral disorder and finally work on it to attain complete recovery. In case of patients suffering from a bacterial or fungal infection in the mouth, doctors generally prescribe a dosage of antibiotics. Antibiotics are even prescribed in case of soreness that helps in bringing back general mucosa condition of the patient. Often diluted hydrogen peroxide is suggested to maintain the oral hygiene. It is very useful for keeping for use as it avoids bacterial birth inside the mouth. Oral surgery is coordinated in case of an abnormal cyst. Removing the cyst enables proper comfort level to the patient along with better flexibility breathing and speaking.
Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done?)
No such eligibility options are determined in oral pathology. It entirely depends on the sort of disease the patient is suffering from. However, it is always recommended to undergo an oral test and consult a pathologist in case in you are facing any problem. The minor disorders mostly get recovered with a dosage of antibiotics. However, in case of oral cancer, special treatment is required.
Who is not eligible for the treatment?
Oral pathology that deals with organs of human mouth, head and neck involve several types of disorders. Being done with a proper diagnosis the doctor prescribes the required treatment to the patient. If an oral exam shows satiating reports, there is no need for the patient to undergo a deep treatment process.
Are there any side effects?
Intake of any medicine or drug will bring some side effects. Antibiotics prescribed for common bacterial growth, sore or dental problems result in providing adverse effects in the patient. These side effects include vomiting tendency, nausea, diarrhoea, vaginal discharge or allergic reaction in the body. However, treatment of neck and head cancer that includes radiotherapy involves various side effects like loss of taste, mucositis and skin erythema.
n case of cancer therapy that includes radiation results in destroying the acinar and other mucus producing that stands in the path of radiation. This, in turn, produces thick saliva inside the mouth that lacks most vital elements to maintain proper oral hygiene.
What are the post-treatment guidelines?
The initial post-treatment guideline after any oral disorder is to maintain a proper oral hygiene. Oral health maintenance speaks of keeping your mouth clean to avoid growth of any bacterial infections or dental cavity. People undergoing treatment for dental trauma, periodontitis or gingivitis should give primary preference in healthy oral habit. Even on tooth removal, the patient is advised to have liquid food like soups, hot water, juice or ice creams. Added to that, frequent check-up stands essential for patients with serious pathological disorder. However, for patients with oral cancer, strict guidelines are to be maintained both during the treatment and pot treatment days.
How long does it take to recover?
Oral disorders like dental cavity issues, hairy tongue, teeth loss or geographic tongue gets cures by active reaction to antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. It takes around 5-7 days and you can realise the drug action in your body. On the other hand, oral cancer involves extensive treatment for several days. Oral surgery may also take 7-10 days of time for full recovery and head back to normal lifestyle.
What is the price of the treatment in India?
The cost of treatment for various oral disorders varies. Cost required for treatment of common issues like tooth removal or dental cavity problems are considerably less and affordable. It only includes consulting fees of the doctor along with the treatment cost. But in case of oral cancer or oral surgery, cost differs to a high extent. Treatment of oral cancer involves radiotherapy and takes around 3.5 to 4 lakh in India.
Are the results of the treatment permanent?
Common oral treatments like dental cavity, bacterial infection, tooth loss gets recovered within few days. These results are permanent at least chance of further occurrence if taken care properly. For cases like oral cancer, radiotherapy is used. This process takes time and comes with numerous side effect even on producing permanent results.
What are the alternatives to the treatment?
Use of medicinal plants are of huge help to various human disorders. Turmeric has been notified to be an active participant in maintaining oral protection. The efficiency of turmeric in oral health is very high. Turmeric component Curcumin acts as an antioxidant that has got influence on endothelia heme oxygenase. Study speaks it utilisation of aortic endothelial cells and increase in resistance oxidative damage. Further, it turns to be anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antimutegenic in nature. Use of curcumin has an active role in resisting pathological diseases.
References
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- Canker Sores- Medline Plus, Health Topics, NIH, U.S. National Library of Medicine [Internet]. medlineplus.gov 2019 [Cited 21 August 2019]. Available from:
- Herpes - oral- Medline Plus, Medical Encyclopedia, NIH, U.S. National Library of Medicine [Internet]. medlineplus.gov 2019 [Cited 21 August 2019]. Available from:
- Dental Caries (Tooth Decay)- NIH, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research [Internet]. nidcr.nih.gov 2018 [Cited 21 August 2019]. Available from:
- Gingivitis- Medline Plus, Medical Encyclopedia, NIH, U.S. National Library of Medicine [Internet]. medlineplus.gov 2019 [Cited 21 August 2019]. Available from:
- GUM DISEASE INFORMATION- American Academy of Periodontology [Internet]. perio.org [Cited 21 August 2019]. Available from:
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