Close Examination

As defined by the World Health Organization, oral pathology refers to the specialty of dentistry that deals with “diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws.” During each preventive exam, Dr. Bickley will look for abnormal signs or symptoms of disease or lesions in your mouth. Many diseases or lesions require only minor treatment, while more suspicious wounds may demand further diagnostic testing or referral for a biopsy.

We believe early diagnosis is the key to successfully identifying and treating oral diseases, so Dr. Bickley attends multiple continuing education classes to stay abreast of the latest diagnostic and treatment tools and procedures. In addition, she conducts an oral cancer screening during every exam, and may recommend periodic screening with a VELscope which can detect potential cancerous lesions not visible to the naked eye.