Oral Pathology
Identify & Manage Oral Disease
Maintaining good dental health involves staying vigilant about oral pathology. Oral pathology focuses on identifying and managing changes in your mouth or face that could indicate disease. These changes can range from common issues like cysts, ulcers, and infections to more severe conditions, including oral cancer.
At Alpine Surgical Arts - Oral & Cosmetic Surgery, our skilled oral surgeons, Dr. Arman Haghighi, Dr. Brian Rowan, and Dr. Syrus Haghighi, are dedicated to diagnosing and treating oral diseases, including oral cancer. We strive to deliver exceptional care and effective clinical outcomes. If you have any concerns about oral health or notice any unusual symptoms, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our experts.
Signs of Oral Abnormalities
Oral disease doesn’t always present with pain or discomfort, which is why regular dental visits and self-examinations are crucial. We recommend conducting a monthly oral exam at home. Begin by standing in front of a mirror, opening your mouth wide, and checking for any abnormalities. Look for visible patches of discoloration, persistent sores, or thickened areas in the mouth. Notice any difficulties with chewing or swallowing. If you observe any of these signs, consult an oral and maxillofacial surgeon promptly, as they may indicate benign or malignant conditions.
Key signs to watch for include:
- Unusual patches of discoloration in the mouth
- Sores that persist beyond two weeks
- Thickening or lumps in the oral tissues
- Trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking
- Persistent hoarseness or sore throat
- Numbness or pain in the mouth or lips
- Loose teeth or changes in your bite
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Ongoing bad breath
If you notice any of these symptoms, scheduling a consultation with our oral surgeons is essential. We offer thorough oral cancer screenings and will discuss tailored treatment options based on your specific needs.
Treatment for Any Oral Pathology
Treatment for oral diseases depends on the condition’s nature. During your visit, our oral surgeons will perform a comprehensive oral examination and may use 3D imaging to assess your condition.
If needed, a biopsy might be performed to further investigate the issue. Before the biopsy, a local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area, ensuring you remain comfortable during the procedure.
Once the area is numb, your oral surgeon will carefully extract a small tissue sample from the affected area. This sample will be analyzed in a laboratory to determine the exact diagnosis. Based on the results, your oral surgeon will discuss the appropriate treatment options with you.
For benign growths or infections, treatments may include oral medications, topical creams, or minor surgical procedures. Common viral and fungal infections, such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and candidiasis (thrush), can be managed effectively with appropriate therapies.
More severe conditions, such as oral cancer, might require extensive treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Your oral surgeon will provide detailed information and support to guide you through the treatment process.
Your Anesthesia Options
Depending on your procedure, you will receive one of the following forms of anesthesia to ensure your comfort.
Preventing Oral Cancer
Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent oral cancer, you can take steps to lower your risk:
- Avoid Tobacco Products: Tobacco use is a major risk factor for oral cancer.
- Limit Alcohol Intake: Moderation in alcohol consumption can help reduce risk.
- Protect Your Lips from Sun Exposure: Use lip balm with SPF to shield your lips from harmful UV rays.
- Regular Dental Checkups: Consistent visits to your dentist can help detect issues early.
Taking these preventive measures can contribute to better oral health and potentially lower the risk of developing oral cancer.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Oral Pathology and other procedures.
" Hi, I'm Blair. I'm from Meridian. I came to Alpine Surgical for a biopsy, extraction, and implants. Immediately when you walk in, the person at the front desk is very welcoming. Dr. Haghighi is very thorough in his explanations and direct. I felt very confident that he was the right person for the work that I needed done. The whole extraction and surgery went better than I expected. Recovery time was much less than I was anticipating. I definitely feel like my quality of life will have improved. Just being able to have my smile back and number two being able to eat normally again. I feel great. I would highly recommend Alpine Surgical Arts to all my family and friends in Garden City."
" Hi, I am Brenda. I'm from Boise and I came to see Dr. Rowan for tooth extraction. Dr. Rowan was amazing. When he came in, he was very friendly, very thorough. He said it will be very quick that make me feel better and at ease. The procedure went very well and the recovery was fast. I just follow all the procedures and all the advice that he gave. It went all very, very well. I feel great. I feel great. I can smile any time and my experience here was perfect. I will definitely 101 percent recommend Alpine. "
"Hi, I'm Eldon and I came here for two extractions. My first impression when I walked into this facility was, "Wow, what a happy place". The people here are smiling and they're friendly. And Dr. H. was really personable, enjoys working here, and he was friendly. The extractions, both of them went real well. It was pretty smooth sailing for me. My overall experience with Alpine was amazing. I'm really glad it worked out well. "
" Hi, I'm Jackie. I'm from Boise, and I came to Alpine Surgical Arts for jaw surgery and a dental implant. When I first walked into the practice, it felt very welcoming. I chose Dr. Haghighi because he was so personal. He was willing to answer my multitude of questions and I really felt that he saw me as a human being, and that's what was really important to me. The dental implant surgery was super easy. The jaw surgery recovery was quite a lot, which I anticipated, but I had many follow ups, and Dr. Haghighi was super kind in answering my many questions. Many questions during my recovery process. I'm really glad I did it. I have a full set of functioning teeth. I would definitely recommend Alpine Surgical Arts. It's really nice now to look at pictures of myself and think that my teeth and my smile look nice. "
" Hi, I'm Jim. I'm from Meridian. I came to Alpine Surgical Arts for extractions and implants. When I first walked in, staff was, you know, very inviting, very professional, easy to talk to. Procedures went well and recovery time was pretty, pretty minimal. I feel great. Every time we do a procedure, I feel good. It's definitely at Alpine Surgical Arts, a welcoming experience, very professional and easy, you know, easy process. I would highly recommend Alpine Surgical Arts to all my family and friends in Meridian."
" Hi, I'm Kristie. I'm from Boise. I came to Alpine Surgical Arts for an extraction and a dental implant. When I first walked into the office, I thought everybody was really welcoming. I thought the office was really clean and bright. The staff at Alpine Surgical Arts was extremely friendly. The doctors here are extremely professional, extremely knowledgeable, really great bedside manner, and made me feel very comfortable. My procedure went really well. It feels really nice to have a beautiful, healthy smile. My overall experience here was excellent. I would absolutely come back to Alpine Surgical Arts. "
" Hi, my name is Lindsey. I'm from Boise and I came to Alpine Surgical Arts for orthognathic surgery. When I came here for a surgery consultation, the environment immediately set me at ease. The staff have been so helpful. They helped me through a lot of insurance and just were super supportive. Dr. Haghighi is great. He took time to answer every single question I had and just made sure I fully understood and was comfortable with everything. My procedure was a lot better than I was anticipating. I feel great. It has been a huge quality of life improvement for me. My overall experience here has been really fantastic. I would highly recommend Alpine Surgical Arts to all my family and friends in Nampa."
"I'm Lucas. I'm from Boise, Idaho, and I went to Alpine Surgical Arts to get my wisdom teeth taken out. It was a really welcoming environment. Everybody was really nice and helpful. The nurses that were helping me were super nice and made sure that I was comfortable. Dr. Rowan was especially very nice to work with, made sure that I knew what was going on. Even after my surgery, he had given a call to check up and make sure that I was doing all right. Everything was good results. I had an amazing experience. Everything was great. I would highly recommend Alpine Surgical Arts to all my friends in Star. I love having a healthy smile."
"Hi, I'm Merri. I'm from Boise, Idaho, and I came to Dr. Rowan to get an extraction and dental implant. When I first came in here, I was impressed with just the simplicity of it and the friendliness of the staff. They walked me through everything. It was wonderful. When I first met Dr. Rowan, he's just very at ease, very confident in what he was doing, which led me to be very much at ease. All my appointments—the extraction, the implant, and the follow-up—it was very quick, in and out. It was very smooth. I'm so glad I came. I would highly recommend Alpine Surgical Arts to my friends and family in Robie Creek."
Finding Better Smiles in Boise and Meridian, ID
When you come to Alpine Surgical Arts - Oral & Cosmetic Surgery, you come to a practice that provides exceptional care by combining years of experience with compassion. Our offices in Boise and Meridian are ready to welcome you and guide you toward the smile you’ve been dreaming of. Contact our office to learn how oral surgery can help change your life while enhancing your oral health.