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“The inside of the human mouth is lined with a special type of skin, that is smooth and coral pink in color, known as mucosa,” says Dr. Harrison Chen, DDS, of Oral, Maxillofacial, & Cosmetic Surgery of New York, a leading oral pathology firm located in New York City. “Any alteration in the appearance of the mucosa can be a sign of a pathological issue.”
According to Dr. Chen, the most serious pathological issue that changes in the mucosa may point to is oral cancer and he suggests looking for a number of changes or symptoms that may be signs of a serious illness.
“Red or white patches in the mouth, a reoccurring sore or bleeding throat, a lump or thickening of the mucosa, and difficulty chewing or swallowing can all be signs of a pathological issue,” says Dr. Chen. “Many of these signs may appear on the lips, cheeks, palate, gums, tongue, face or neck.”
According to Dr. Chen, pain is not always a pathological symptom and is not often associated with oral cancer. However, he notes that facial or oral pain without any obvious cause can point to oral cancer.
“Our professional staff recommends performing an oral cancer self-examination on a monthly basis,” says Dr. Chen. “The mouth is one of the human body's most important warning systems, so patients should never ignore suspicious lumps or sores.”
Oral, Maxillofacial, & Cosmetic Oral Surgery New York, located at 140 West 58th Street, Suite A, New York, NY, is the private practice of Dr. Harrison Chen. The newly constructed office and state-of-the-art surgery center is equipped with a hospital-sized operating room for larger maxillofacial trauma/reconstructive surgeries, in addition to four smaller, individual operatories for general oral surgical procedures (wisdom teeth extractions, dental implants, bone grafts and sinus augmentations). The state-certified operating room is staffed with an anesthesiologist and two nursing staff members. The entire facility is equipped for medical emergencies to the same capacity as an ambulatory hospital center.
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