Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, a specialized field of dentistry, focuses on understanding, identifying, and managing diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions on a microscopic level .

This discipline encompasses both clinical and laboratory aspects of oral disease. Students undergo comprehensive training in the oral and maxillofacial areas, empowering them to provide clinical diagnosis for a spectrum of maxillofacial diseases and other complex medical issues. These unique skills in dentistry enable them to deliver conclusive diagnoses through histopathological and cytological reports for all cases related to the oral and maxillofacial regions.

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology at Saraswati Dental College & Hospital was established in 1998 with the inception of the institute. The postgraduate course within the department commenced in 2006 and earned recognition from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Dental Council of India in 2009.
Thrust Areas of the Department :
1.Natural Substitutes in Cell fixation.
2. Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Q. What is Oral Pathology?

A. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. As such, it occupies a unique position in the Oral and Maxillofacial regions.

Q. Why Oral Pathology?

A.Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist entails both clinical and laboratory components. They are trained not only to diagnose diseases affecting oral and maxillofacial region but they also treat patients in a clinical setting for a variety of diseases of the maxillofacial complex. They are the only competent professionals in dentistry who can provide final diagnosis in the form of histopathological and cytological reports for all cases related to oral and maxillofacial region.

Q. What are the differences between an oral pathologist and a general pathologist?

A. A general surgical pathologist is an individual who has graduated from medical college and completed a postgraduation in surgical pathology, often later enrolling in a postgraduate fellowship to gain further expertise in a specific field of pathology. An oral pathologist is a graduate of a dental college who has completed postgraduation specifically in oral and maxillofacial pathology.

Q. What are the career options once one has become oral and maxillofacial pathologist?

A. The certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist can pursue a career in oncology centers, hospitals, academic, military health centers, private practice and even undertake research in India and abroad. They can practice diagnostic pathology (laboratory) related to oral and maxillofacial region or open oral precancer and cancer detection center.

Description:-

The specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and  Oral Microbiology deals with the understanding of anatomy, physiology, embryology and histology of oral and para-oral structures and its pathology. It also imparts knowledge and skills on Forensic Odontology.

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology at Saraswati Dental College began in the year 1998 with the inception of the institute. The Department was privileged to be guided by Prof. (Dr.) R. M. Mathur, one of the senior-most and pioneer of Oral Pathology in India. The postgraduate course in the Department was initiated in 2006 with an intake of 2 students per year, and was recognized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dental Council of India in 2009.

A multitude of postgraduates have passed from the department and are placed nationally as well as internationally. The department has made tremendous progress in academics and research; making its mark at the National and International levels.