Buccal Pathology is the science that studies disease of the buccal and maxillofacial tissues and organs. It studies its causes, development and natural history, its signs and symptoms and elements for its diagnosis and therapy.

Buccal pathology in itself is not a specialty but an area of study which overlaps all odontological specialties. At least three specialties derive from this science: Clinical Buccal Pathology or Oral Medicine, Odontological Histopathology and Forensic Odontology.

Oral Medicine is the clinical odontological specialty dedicated to the diagnosis of all diseases that may affect the buccal apparatus and its ancillary tissues, as well as the treatment of all those buccal diseased that DO NOT have a surgical, orthopaedic or operatory-prosthetic solution. Its treatments are normally pharmacological. It is also dedicated to the study of the buccal repercussion in all systemic illnesses and their relation with therapeutic odontology.

Histopathology is the laboratory specialty whose objective is the microscopic diagnosis of the different samples obtained by the clinic (biopsies and smears) from the oral and perioral tissues.

Forensic Odontology is the clinical and laboratory specialty that handles forensic and judicial assessments where odontology plays a central role (identification of cadavers, massive disasters, bite analysis, etc).

Many of the lesions we diagnose and treat are chronic, and therefore do not commonly present symptomology and only a full and meticulous examination can detect them. Therefore, when was the last time that you had a buccal check-up? Do you have lesions that resurface every so often? Do you have any ulcers that won’t heal? Any little lump in the mouth and you don’t know who to turn to? Have you been from doctor to doctor and not yet found the right specialist for your buccal illness? You may need our specialist help!

The lesions we see can be located in the soft tissue of the mouth and face, in the salivary glands, the lymphatic ganglia or in the thickness of the maxillary bones. They may present symptoms such as pain, burning, loss of sensitivity, dry mouth sensation or they may be completely asymptomatic. The range of lesions is extensive and ranges from malformed lesions, reactional lesions, bacterial infections, through fungus or viral, autoimmune, benign and malign tumours.