Oral Pathology

The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer. The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:

• Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth.
• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily.
• A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth.
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
• Difficulty in chewing or swallowing.

These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology, and curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.

We would recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly and remember that your mouth is one of your body's most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores.
Please contact us at 212-696-2677,so we may help.

VELscope®

VELscope® is a revolutionary hand-held device that assists Dr. Calat in detecting abnormal tissue at an early stage. It is the only device cleared by the FDA to help discover lesions that may not be visible to the naked eye. This system is used in conjunction with a conventional oral screening, which includes looking inside the oral cavity for any lesions that might be visible and feeling your neck for any suspicious bumps.

The patented VELscope® hand-held device emits a safe blue light, which excites the tissue from the surface causing it to fluoresce. Dr. Calat is able to see beneath the surface to detect potentially dangerous growths not noticeable to the eye. This painless, non-invasive examination only takes one or two minutes

Dr. Calat is one of the few Oral Surgeons nationally utilizing this state of the art technology.