Dental pathology is a branch of pathology that focuses on the study of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial tissues, including the teeth, gums, jaws, salivary glands, and other structures in and around the mouth. Dental pathologists use a range of diagnostic techniques to identify and characterize oral diseases, including clinical examination, imaging tests, and laboratory analysis of tissue and fluid samples. Common oral conditions studied by dental pathologists include dental caries (cavities), periodontal disease, oral cancer, and developmental anomalies of the teeth and jaws. Dental pathology plays an important role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases, and is a key component of modern dental practice.