Epithelial Pathology from A to Z

Diagnosis in oral health care relies on systematic knowledge and recognition of common clinical patterns. This course reviews the most frequent oral mucosal conditions, accounting for the majority of patient consultations, and provides practical updates on their diagnosis and management. From aphthae to zoster, participants will gain greater confidence in identifying lesions and applying appropriate treatment algorithms.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Expand their clinical diagnostic algorithm to systematically evaluate common oral mucosal conditions.
2. Correlate oral presentations with potential systemic disease processes to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
3. Apply and expand evidence based treatment algorithms for the effective management of oral lesions

Theresa S. Gonzales, DMD, MS, MSS, is the Associate Dean for Extramural Clinics and Professor of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University. She earned her DMD from the Medical University of South Carolina, her MS in Oral Biology, Advanced Education Certificates in Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and in Orofacial Pain Management from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center; the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, National Naval Postgraduate Dental School; and George Washington University. Prior to her retirement from the United States Army Dental Corps, she completed a MSS in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College and is nationally recognized as a Federal Healthcare Executive. Theresa has published more than seventy-five articles in peer-reviewed journals, eleven book chapters, and served as a reviewer for seminal publications in her areas of expertise. She has presented more than one thousand hours of continuing education lectures both nationally and internationally. She is the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the American Dental Association and the 2022 Pierre Fauchard Gold Medal Award.