Oral Pathology

This specialized branch of dentistry focuses on the comprehensive study and identification of pathological processes affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions through the integration of clinical, radiographic, and primarily microscopic analyses.
Dental students begin their education with regular tooth carving exercises and slide discussions to learn about the normal morphological and histological features of teeth and oral structures. They are introduced to the embryological processes that lead to tooth formation and, by the third year, delve into the pathological variations associated with diseases of the oral structures. Training encompasses various practices in oral pathology, including histopathology, exfoliative cytology, and modern techniques such as immunohistochemistry, PCR, and in-situ hybridization.
Recognizing that many oral diseases stem from microbial infections, the curriculum also incorporates the study of oral microbiology. The department provides micro-diagnosis of oral