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South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery
Home Dental Services Oral Pathology

Oral Pathology


A disease-free, healthy oral cavity has a smooth and pink mucosal lining. When a series of changes in that lining along with other symptoms start appearing, it may be indicative of the existence of a serious underlying disease that requires proper examination. Here at South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, we have expert oral pathologists and surgeons equipped with advanced technology and comprehensive experience in diagnosing oral disorders, allowing them to accurately find the cause of the problem and determining the right treatment.

Oral Cancer Screenings


The appearance of lumps and bumps, change in color, pain, or other abnormalities in the oral cavity may be signs of something more serious is going on in the pathology of your mouth. Dr. McMurray and Dr. Arian Chehrehsa are proficient pathologists, providing prompt and accurate diagnostic and consultative services. Amongst a variety of various other diseases in the mouth and jaw, oral cancer screening is available at South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery. Oral cancer often appears undetected and without apparent symptoms. Periodic oral cancer screenings facilitate early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous oral conditions while they are still treatable.

The following changes in your oral cavity, whether in your tongue, cheeks, gum tissue, lips, etc. can be signs of cancer:
•  White or red patches on the interior of the oral cavity;
•  Chronic hoarse or sore throat;
•  Lesions and sores in the mucosal lining;
•  Excessive bleeding;
•  Difficulty in chewing;
•  Dysphagia or swallowing problems.

While these signs can be indicative of cancer, there are other oral disorders that trigger similar symptoms. Hence, it is critical to get an early diagnosis. South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery pathologists perform thorough inspections and histopathological reviews wherever necessary to determine the cause.

During a routine checkup, Dr. McMurray and Dr. Chehrehsa will look for the abovementioned changes in your oral cavity, feeling the tissues to assess lumps or growth not visible to the naked eye. If need be, they might take a sample of the tissue for a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis. Annual oral screenings are recommended for everyone, especially for people at a higher risk of developing an oral condition. Some of these risk factors include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, history of oral cancer, HPV infections, and regular prolonged sun exposure.

Treating Oral Cancer


Treatment for oral cancer, when detected early, has high success rates. More than 90% of cases of oral cancer that are diagnosed at an early stage are effectively treated. A combination of treatment options is used, depending on the severity of the case. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are among various treatments that you may require to fight cancerous presence in your oral cavity. However, these treatments are quite high-impact and have various side effects that necessitate addressing any other oral health concern you might have. This is important as oral problems such as periodontal disease, cavities, gum disease, etc. may lead to post-therapeutic complications that only aggravate the situation further.

Since your mouth is a vital part of your body, especially the digestive system, you should administer self-exams at least once a month and professional oral screenings once a year. Be on the lookout for any signs of potential oral disorder, and never ignore a sore or a lesion. If you have recently noticed a change in your mouth that requires the attention of an oral pathologist or you are due for an assessment, call us and schedule an appointment today.

Additional Dental Services in San Jose


The bar attachment denture is an innovative restoration that has allowed us to upgrade your dentures. Replacing teeth has never offered a more secure foundation before. Traditional dentures have limited success; they came with a lot of frustration. At South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, we can eliminate much of that frustration and provide you with dentures that don’t rock on your gums, are held firmly in place, and secured when chewing or speaking.
With the evolving dental technology in the world, you can expect to find some of the latest and greatest gadgets that are out there. With 3D X-Ray imaging, a whole new way to take pictures of the oral problem areas has come about.
How many times have you heard someone joke about preceding sleep to get different tasks done? While sleep is often seen as unimportant, it is essential. Sleep is a restorative process. As you sleep, your body can rest and repair so that you can function during the day. While everyone has a bad night of sleep every now and again, there are millions of Americans who wake up feeling exhausted every single day. If this sounds familiar, you may be living with a condition called sleep apnea. South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery can help.
Recovery after a tooth extraction should only last for a couple of days, but there are certain steps that you can take to speed up the healing process.
While our jawbone is responsible for supporting and keeping all of our teeth in place, our teeth provide it with the necessary stimulation needed to preserve its structure and resistance. However, both of them may be put in danger due to a variety of factors. Here at South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, we care about your oral health, and are ready to treat any issues related to the jawbone structure.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a sort of hinge that attaches your jaw to your head. You have two temporomandibular joints – one on either side of your head. Temporomandibular disorders (or TMD) causes pain in the joints and muscles of the jaw that control movement. For this reason, those who suffer from TMD may experience pain while talking, chewing or yawning.
Here at South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, we offer an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment option for bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). If you experience frequent grinding or clenching of the teeth, then you may be having a condition called bruxism, which may lead to TMJ disorder. Bruxism and TMJ problems can adversely affect your general health and quality of life. Come see our team of experts so we can help provide you with a solution to these dental problems before they exacerbate.
If you went through a surgical procedure in order to expose an impacted tooth, it is important to take certain steps following your appointment in order to promote healing and to stay comfortable. Most importantly, don’t disturb the wound. If your surgeon put in surgical packing, leave it be, as this will help to make sure the tooth stays exposed. However, should the packing fall out or be dislodged, this is no cause for concern.
Removing impacted wisdom teeth will be a major surgical procedure, so following the proper post-operative care will be vital to successful healing. If you don’t follow these instructions carefully, you may experience unnecessary pain and potential complications involving swelling and infection.
A cleft palate is a somewhat common birth defect with about 1 in 1600 babies born with a cleft lip and palate. Additionally, about 1 in 2800 babies are born with a cleft lip without a cleft palate. Without treatment, the baby can suffer with problems that prevent the ability to suck preventing them from getting the nutrition and comfort they need. As the baby grows, there can be issues with tooth development and speech development. Thankfully today, we have increased knowledge and treatment options available to help.
Digital radiography has fast become an important part of the dental diagnosis, treatment, and documentation. It is a technological advancement that has helped dental practitioners improve dental practice by making developing dental x-rays safer and more convenient. We at South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery use digital X-rays for a variety of procedures and treatments, including dental implants, all on 4, tooth extraction, bone graft, etc.
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Phone


San Jose: (408) 479-9449
Gilroy: (408) 479-8788
Los Banos: (209) 270-5361

Hours


Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
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Oral Pathology San Jose & Gilroy • South Valley OFS
At South Valley Oral & Facial Surgery, we take your mouth very seriously! That's why we offer oral cancer screenings and other services to improve your oral health.
South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, 5595 Winfield Blvd, Suite 202, San Jose, CA 95123-1220; 408-479-9449; svofs.com; 10/31/2024; Key Phrases: dental implants San Jose CA;