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Oral Pathology

Query oral pathology

Oral and maxillofacial pathology refers to diseases or infections related to the mouth, jaws, or related structures. Paying attention to the normal condition of the lining of your mouth (called the mucosa) is important so that any changes can be addressed as soon as possible. If caught early, a pathological process can be treated more effectively by the team at Lakeside Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery.

There are many kinds of oral diseases, such as infections, canker sores, and even oral cancer. If you aren’t sure whether your condition classifies as oral pathology, your oral surgeon will be able to help diagnose your condition and form a treatment plan. Dr. Bale is trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of oral pathologies.

In the case of a suspected oral pathology, you may have a biopsy of the area of concern during your exam. In general, a biopsy is a quick sample of tissue that is sent off to a pathologist for diagnosis. Local anesthesia is usually all that is needed for a biopsy procedure. Dr. Bale will determine the next course of treatment based on the pathologist’s findings.

Signs of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases

If you notice any of these changes in your mouth, call our practice right away for an examination:

  • Sores that bleed or fail to heal on their own
  • Swelling that recurs or doesn’t resolve
  • Red or white patches on gums, tongue, or cheeks
  • Lumps in the mouth or on the neck
  • Change in color, texture, or shape of the mucosa
  • Soreness or hoarseness in the throat that won’t go away
  • Earache that lasts longer than normal
  • Pain in or around the mouth with no visible cause

Many oral and facial pathologies have no uncomfortable or painful symptoms in early stages, so it is crucial to attend regular checkups. Oral and maxillofacial diseases are much easier to treat if they are caught early. Contact us if you notice any irregularity of the oral or maxillofacial region, including the tongue, tonsils, salivary glands, cheeks, lips, palate, and gums. We will make every effort to see you as soon as possible.

Anesthesia Options

We offer several options for anesthesia and sedation at Lakeside Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery:

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is a numbing medication that is injected directly into the surgical site. It is used in all oral surgery procedures, often in conjunction with other forms of anesthesia. With local anesthesia alone, you will remain conscious throughout surgery, but you will not feel any pain. You will be able to eat a light meal before your procedure and will not require a responsible driver to drive you home. Usually, the only sensation felt during the procedure is some pressure around the surgical area. Simpler surgeries, like some extractions and soft tissue procedures, often require only local anesthesia.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is inhaled through a mask around your nose and is used along with a local anesthetic. Nitrous oxide has a pain-controlling and calming effect while allowing you to remain conscious. The effects wear off soon after the mask is removed, so you will not require a responsible driver to drive you home.

(IV) Sedation

Hospital or Surgery Center-Based General Anesthesia is for patients who require more complicated or extensive surgery. A hospital anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia. Usually, patients who have received general anesthesia are driven home the same day as the procedure, but in some cases, you may require an overnight stay in the hospital.

Surgery Center-Based General Anesthesia

Office-based general anesthesia puts the patient in an unconscious state, during which you will be completely unaware of the procedure being performed. During this type of anesthesia, your vital signs will be closely monitored. We usually reserve this type of anesthesia for more complex surgeries such as wisdom teeth extractions and dental implant placement, but you may request general anesthesia for your routine procedure if you are very prone to anxiety about surgery. A designated driver is required to take you home after your procedure if you receive IV anesthesia. Your pre- and post-surgical instructions will provide you with detailed information about all phases of your treatment, including important details about what to do before and after receiving anesthesia and sedation.

Hear From Oral Pathology Patients

These patients can tell you about their firsthand experience undergoing oral pathology treatment at our office.

Kathy oral pathology russellville ar

Kathy

Oral Pathology

September 2017
Testimonial al

Al

Full-Arch Restoration

September 2024
Andre Exts

Andre

General Tooth Extraction

September 2021
Darlene Ext DI

Darlene

Dental Implants

February 2022

Reviews From Our Oral Pathology Patients

Devoe

Devoe Reviews His Dental Implants Procedure

Watch Review

"My name is Devoe, and I live here in Russellville, and I had a procedure done of an implant by Dr. Bale about 18 months ago. During the process, Dr. Bale was very, very nice. If I had a question, he had an answer. The staff was great — very, very nice — and I found them no different than my church folks. Overall experience was very, very easy. He did a great job. If I need another one, you know where I'll be. To all my friends in Dover, Pottsville, Dardanelle, if you need an implant, I would highly recommend Dr. Bale. He does a super job."

Dr. Stump

Dr. Stump Reviews His Dental Implants Procedure

Watch Review

"Hi, I'm Dr. Heath Stump from Russellville, and I came to Lakeside OFS for a dental implant. When I first walked into this practice, I felt very welcome. I found the staff here to be very helpful and very nice. Dr. Bale, just really nice guy, very easy to talk to. My procedure went very smoothly. Recovery was great. Dental implant feels great. My quality of life is back to what it was before. My overall experience with Dr. Bale’s practice is excellent. I would highly recommend Lakeside OFS to anybody."

Hampton

Hampton Reviews His Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure

Watch Review

"Hi, my name is Hampton and I’m from Russellville. I came here to get my wisdom teeth removed. My experience here was great. They made me feel comfortable and the staff here are really great. I have a lot of really cool conversations with them. Dr. Bale is a really nice guy. He’s friendly and always is nice to me and always treats me and my mom really great. The procedure went really well and the recovery was quick and easy. If you want to have a nice smile, this is the place to come to. "

Oral Pathology in Russellville, AR

While most changes are not serious, any change to the mouth can indicate disease. Early identification and treatment are important. Please contact Lakeside Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery in Russellville, AR, right away if you notice any changes to the oral or maxillofacial region. Our oral surgeon, Dr. Bale, will evaluate the area in question and provide recommendations for further treatment.

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