Conditions We Treat

Oral cancer, specifically cheek cancer, can form in any part of the mouth. Most cheek cancers begin in the cells that cover the surfaces of the cheek. Tests to diagnose oral cancer include a physical exam, endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging tests.

Normally in the early weeks of child development, the right and left sides of the upper lip and the roof of the mouth grow together and fuse. Occasionally, one or all of these structures fail to fuse resulting in a cleft lip and/or palate; a phenomenon which can be partial or complete. Over many years, surgeons and other healthcare providers have developed multidisciplinary teams to deal with cleft lip and palate in addition to other associated problems that can occur.

Cranio-maxillofacial trauma encompasses any injury to the soft tissues of the face, neck, and scalp, as well as to the hard tissues of the facial skeleton including the teeth, facial bones, or the cranium. They also range in severity depending on the cause of the injury and can often involve injuries to other parts of the body.

Gum cancer is a type of oral cancer that grows on the surface of the gums. It is more common in men and people over age 40.

Corrective jaw surgery is a procedure utilized to treat a wide variety of issues with the jaws and teeth. These discrepancies may lead to difficulty chewing, difficulty swallowing, problems with the jaw joint, difficulty with speech, excessive wear on teeth, imbalance of the facial profile, dry eyes, weak chin, and problems breathing.

Oral cancer, specifically lip cancer, can form in any part of the mouth. Most oral cancers begin in the cells that cover the surfaces of the lips. Tests to diagnose oral cancer include a physical exam, endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging tests.

A type of cancer in the category of head and neck cancer, oral cancer can occur on any part of the mouth including the lips, gums, tongue, inside cheek lining, or the roof or floor of the mouth.

An oral cyst is an unexpected fluid-filled sac in or around the mouth that can be caused or aggravated by an infection in the pulp area of the tooth, overly irritated or injured tissue in the mouth or an impacted wisdom tooth.

The oral cavity is a specialized environment of soft and hard tissues that is unique and one of the most dynamic regions in the body. It is the only area of the body that houses teeth (and the specialized structures that form teeth), contains bone, blood vessels, nerves, mucosa (the specialized type of skin that lines the oral cavity, nose, and GI tract), salivary glands, taste buds, and muscle tissue.

Growths can start in any area of the mouth, including bones, muscles, nerves and connective tissues, but they usually form on the lips, sides of the tongue, the soft palate and the floor of the mouth.

Salivary gland cancer is a rare type of head and neck cancer in the salivary glands which make saliva and then empty the saliva into openings in the mouth called ducts. Doctors diagnose salivary gland cancer using a physical exam, imaging tests, and a biopsy.

An individual with sleep apnea experiences breathing that stops and starts during the sleep cycle. The two main types of sleep apnea are central sleep apnea, when the brain isn’t sending the right signals to the muscles that control breathing, and obstructive sleep apnea, when the throat muscles relax. 

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the small joint in front of the ear where the lower jaw fits in to the base of the skull. Between the top part of the jaw (the condyle) and the base of the skull (fossa) is a specialized disk similar to the meniscus of the knee. This joint allows people to open and close their mouth. Surrounding the joint are a number of muscles that facilitate opening and closing of the mouth.

Most tongue cancers begin in the cells that cover the surfaces of your tongue. Tests to diagnose oral cancer include a physical exam, endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging tests.

The neurosurgeons at Boston Medical Center have extensive experience with the surgical management of nerve disorders of the head and face such as trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm.

In many people, the third molars (wisdom teeth) are not functional teeth, meaning that they are not useful in chewing. Depending on their position in the mouth, they can be difficult to keep clean. Debris and bacteria can gather around wisdom teeth causing pain, inflammation, and cavities.