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Clear Lake Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 17448 Highway 3, Suite 170 • Webster, Texas 77598-4139 • Phone: 281-338-7700 • Fax: 281-338-7703 Oral disease includes the diagnosis and treatment of infections, tumors and cysts of the jaw and oral cavity. Because the mouth is a region where changes can be easily seen, performing self-examination on a regular basis will help in early recognition of unusual physical changes. Such physical changes may include: a whitish/reddish patch of tissue in the mouth, a small indurated (hardened) ulcer, which may look like a canker sore or a wart, or a sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily. Other signs to watch for are newly developed lumps, masses, irritations, or thickening of the tissues, which can be felt inside the mouth or on the neck. Also, be aware of pain, a chronic sore throat or hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing, speaking, chewing, or any numbness in the oral/facial region. Because there are so many benign tissue changes that occur normally in your mouth, for instance, a bite on the inside of your cheek may mimic the appearance of a dangerous tissue change, it is important to have any sore or discolored area in your mouth examined by your dentist or oral surgeon. Many tumors and cysts can be detected and easily treated in the early stages. If your dentist or Dr. Holcomb decides that an area is suspicious, the only way to know for sure is to perform a biopsy of the area. This is minimally uncomfortable and takes little time to perform. The surgical procedure would involve a small incision or a complete excision (removal). It is important to have a firm diagnosis as early as possible. Treatment is based on the definitive microscopic diagnosis. Recurrence after any type of surgical removal is not uncommon. Pathology is that branch of natural science which treats of the causes and nature of disease, together with the anatomical and functional changes incident thereto: the practice of human pathology is that specialty in the practice of medicine which may contribute to the diagnosis, treatment, observation and understanding of the progress of disease or medical condition in the human subject by means of information obtained by morphologic, microscopic, chemical, microbiologic, serologic or other type of laboratory examination made on the patient or on any material obtained from the human body. Approved definition of the College of American Pathologists Welcome - Dr. Holcomb - General Information - Financial Information - How to Contact our Office - Directions to our Office - Information about our Specialty - Specialty Procedures - Patient Forms - HIPPA Privacy Notice - Pre-Operative Instructions - Post-Operative Instructions - Site Disclaimer - Links |