Dear Student,

As you progress in your dental education at Sharavathi Dental College, the specialty of Oral Pathology & Microbiology will help you bridge the gap between basic medical sciences and clinical dentistry. This subject is where you will learn to identify, diagnose, and understand the causes of oral diseases at a microscopic and molecular level—skills that are essential for every aspiring dentist.

What you will learn in Oral Pathology & Microbiology:

• Normal oral biology & histology – Understanding the microscopic structure of teeth, oral mucosa, and related tissues.
• Developmental disturbances of teeth and jaws – Identifying anomalies like amelogenesis imperfecta, dentinogenesis imperfecta, and cleft conditions.
• Oral microbiology – Learning about microorganisms that cause dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral infections.
• Oral manifestations of systemic diseases – How conditions like diabetes, anaemia, and autoimmune diseases reflect in the oral cavity.
• Pathology of dental caries & periodontal disease – The biological process behind tooth decay and gum disease.
• Benign & malignant tumours of the oral cavity – Early detection and differentiation of oral cancers and precancerous lesions such as leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis.
• Salivary gland pathology – Recognizing cysts, tumours, and infections affecting salivary glands.
• Forensic odontology – Application of dental science in identification and legal investigations.
• Diagnostic histopathology – Preparing, staining, and interpreting biopsy samples under the microscope.

Why it matters for your career:

Oral Pathology & Microbiology trains you to think like a diagnostician. By studying disease mechanisms, you will learn how to recognize subtle changes in the oral cavity that could indicate infections, genetic conditions, or even early cancer. This subject sharpens your ability to correlate clinical findings with laboratory results, making you an essential link between dentistry and medicine.

At Sharavathi, you will gain hands-on exposure to microscopic slide examinations, biopsy interpretations, and diagnostic case discussions, preparing you to handle both academic challenges and real-world clinical scenarios.

By mastering this subject, you will not only improve your diagnostic skills but also be well-prepared for advanced fields like Oral Medicine, Oral Radiology, and Oral Oncology.