Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Biopsy Service

We Diagnose. We Treat. We Teach.
We are the University of Michigan Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology!

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ABOUT

For over 60 years, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry has been home to the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Biopsy Service composed of board-certified faculty members with extensive training in the clinical, radiographic, and histologic interpretation of lesions occurring in the head and neck area including the oral cavity and the jaw bones. Because of our educational focus, our pathologists are able to apply relevant clinicopathologic correlations to help ensure accurate diagnoses and recommendations for disease management based on contemporary standards of care. As members of an academic medical center, we provide you and your patients an oral diagnostic service based on latest research and innovation in health care.

Pathological diagnoses are faxed or mailed within 24 hours of soft tissue specimen receipt, with exceptions for hard tissue, special stains, direct immunofluorescence studies and cases sent on consult. We accept most medical insurance carriers and bill the patients directly. We serve the needs of clinicians throughout the United States.

SERVICES

Our histopathology laboratory offers a wide range of diagnostic services that address the needs of dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other dental specialists. These services include:

Standard tissue processing

Molecular diagnostics

Immunofluorescence testing

We perform direct immunofluorescence studies on specimens where additional testing is needed for a definitive diagnosis of a mucocutaneous disorder such as mucous membrane pemphigoid, erosive lichen planus, or pemphigus vulgaris. Please note that immunofluorescence testing requires the submission of specimens in formalin as well as Michel’s or Zeus solution which is available free of charge, by contacting our service.

We are available to discuss patient biopsy results and “next steps” after diagnosis including expedited referral to University of Michigan Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

For direct patient evaluation and management as well as CBCT interpretation please contact the Dental Faculty Associates.

TEAM

Our five pathologists are Diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and provide diagnoses for common and complex oral diseases, including periodontal inflammation, odontogenic lesions, benign and malignant tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region, salivary gland tumors, autoimmune conditions involving the oral cavity, and complex oral manifestation of systemic diseases.

theadora danciu

Theodora Danciu, DMD, DMSc

Director

Dr. Danciu is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and a consultant for the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. She graduated with a BA in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley after which she completed her DMD at Harvard University. She continued her training at Harvard where she obtained a Doctor of Medical Sciences degree as well as a certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. After two years as Instructor at Harvard, she joined the University of Michigan in 2007. Dr. Danciu is the recipient of numerous teaching awards both at Harvard and University of Michigan and research awards including the National Research Service Award and the National Institute of Health Transition Career Development Award. She currently serves on several committees at the School of Dentistry, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Dental Association and American Association for Dental Research.

Publications

nisha dsilva

Nisha D'Silva, BDS, MSD, PhD

Dr. D’Silva is an oral pathologist, cancer biologist, and educator. She is Associate Chair in the department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. Dr. D’Silva is the Donald Kerr Endowed Collegiate Professor of Oral Pathology and Professor of Dentistry at the University of Michigan. She is also Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Michigan Medical School and a member of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research in head and neck cancer focuses on biomarkers and molecular mechanisms of tumor progression and treatment resistance. She has published over 70 scientific papers; her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her work has been recognized by several awards including the Rod Cawson Prize from the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. She also received the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor award and the University of Michigan Crosby Award for women in science and engineering. Dr. D’Silva received her dental degree at the University of Bombay, India, followed by a Residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and a Master’s degree at Indiana University, Indianapolis. She received her PhD at the University of Washington, Seattle.

yu leo lei

Yu Leo Lei, DDS, PhD

Dr. Lei is an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He holds joint appointments with the Graduate Program in Immunology, Translational Oncology Program, U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University of Michigan Medical School. He serves on the editorial board of a number of journals, including Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology. He has also served on the Nomination Committee of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Dr. Lei completed a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), following his PhD training at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then completed a Head and Neck Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Dr. Lei was a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Lei is has received well-respected clinical and translational research awards, including the Leon Barnes award for Head and Neck Pathology research from the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. He is the principal investigator of a translational immunology research laboratory.

Publications

peter polverini

Peter J. Polverini, DDS, DMSc

Dr. Polverini is the Jonathan Taft Distinguished University Professor of Dentistry and dean emeritus, University of Michigan Dental School and Professor of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Polverini holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a DDS from Marquette University. He completed specialty training in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and was awarded the Doctor of Medical Sciences degree from Harvard University. He has held faculty appointments at the University of Pittsburgh, Northwestern University and the University of Minnesota where he served as professor and dean of the School of Dentistry.

Dr. Polverini has a distinguished scientific career in the field of vascular and cancer biology where he has long been a leader and influential figure. More recently, he has focused his attention on the educational and workforce implications of new integrated care delivery models and healthcare policy implications of the emerging personalized healthcare environment.

Dr. Polverini is a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award in Oral Medicine and Pathology from the International Association for Dental Research, the Birnberg Research Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Marquette University School of Dentistry, the William J Gies Award for Vision by a Dental Educator from the American Dental Education Association Gies Foundation, and past President of the American Association for Dental Research. Dr. Polverini is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.

peter polverini

Felipe Nor, DDS, MS, PhD, Dip. ABOMP

Dr. Nor is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Dr. Nor earned his DDS degree and PhD in Oral Pathology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil. After working seven years as a dentist in private practice in Brazil, Dr. Nor joined the University of Iowa College of Dentistry where he completed the Masters in Oral Sciences program as well as the Certificate and Fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Dr. Nor is a reviewer of several scientific journals in the field of dentistry, dental hygiene, and pathology, and serves as guest editor on a Special Research Topic at Frontiers in Oral Health. His primary research interests include the evaluation of markers for the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors and the therapeutic effect of small molecule inhibitors in pre-clinical models of head and neck cancer. Dr. Nor is an active member of the University of Michigan Oral and Maxillofacial Biopsy Service.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

To submit a specimen, please start with our Biopsy External Referrals Form. While filling out this form, there will be an opportunity to review and print a copy of the information you are submitting. Included in this print-out, there will be a place for the patient to sign the form, or you can specify that you have the patient's signature on file.

BIOPSY KITS

We provide free of charge, UPS prepaid 2-day shipping labels and biopsy service kits. Our kits have biopsy submission containers with formalin solution and, upon request, Zeus/Michel's solution for specimens requiring direct immunofluorescence studies.

You can drop your UPS package off at UPS drop box location or have your regularly scheduled UPS driver take the package or call 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) to schedule a pickup at your office.


General Specimen Submission Information

(including submission during winter months and for direct immunofluorescence (DIF) studies)


Request a biopsy service kit: umoralpath@umich.edu.

biopsy kit

BILLING & PAYMENTS

For questions regarding your bill please call APS Medical Billing at 1-800-594-1876.

To pay your bill using a credit card please call 734-647-4246.

CONTACT

Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Biopsy Service
1011 N. University, Room G018
Ann Arbor 48109, MI
Phone: (800) 358-1011
Fax: 734-764-2469
Email: umoralpath@umich.edu