Front and Center: Dr. Jamie White Brown

Front and Center: Dr. Jamie White Brown

Most dental patients expect their visit to focus on teeth - a cavity, a cleaning, maybe a filling. What many don't realize is that a routine dental exam can sometimes detect serious disease. And when a dentist finds something suspicious, the next step often leads to a quiet lab inside the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry.

There, under a microscope, Dr. Jamie White Brown, assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology, studies tissue samples sent from providers across the state. As a pathologist, she is responsible for diagnosing diseases of the mouth and jaws.

The oral and maxillofacial pathology services laboratory evaluates surgical specimens from the oral and maxillofacial region and serves a wide range of clinicians, including general dentists, oral surgeons, pediatric dentists, dermatologists and otolaryngologists. UMMC is the only facility in Mississippi with practicing oral and maxillofacial pathologists.

"Having Dr. White, an oral pathologist, on faculty strengthens the entire institution academically, clinically and interprofessionally," said Dr. Pia Chatterjee Kirk, dean of the School of Dentistry. "The core value is that oral pathology sits at the intersection of dentistry, medicine, and biomedical science, and the presence of this specialist elevates every part of UMMC."

"Biopsies are a critical diagnostic tool," White said. "When abnormal tissue is identified in the mouth or jaws, submitting that tissue for microscopic evaluation ensures an accurate diagnosis. That definitive diagnosis guides appropriate treatment and improves patient outcomes."

White's path to oral pathology began when she was a teenager undergoing orthodontic treatment. There, she experienced firsthand how transformative dentistry could be. The improvements were not only functional, but personal.

"Seeing the impact on my confidence inspired me to pursue a career where I could meaningfully affect someone's life," she said.

During her time as a student at the UMMC School of Dentistry, she was introduced to oral pathology through coursework focused on oral lesions. A faculty mentor encouraged her to explore the specialty further, and shadowing in the department revealed a field that combined clinical dentistry with investigative science.

"The investigative nature of the field - piecing together multiple layers of information to solve a diagnostic puzzle - solidified my decision," White said.

White earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from UMMC in 2018 before completing a residency in oral and maxillofacial pathology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She later returned to Mississippi to join the School of Dentistry faculty.

"I'm originally from Mississippi, and it is my home," she said. "Practicing and teaching here allows me to give back to the community that shaped me."

When a dentist encounters a suspicious lesion, a small tissue sample is collected and sent to the pathology laboratory for evaluation. The specimen typically arrives in a small container filled with preservative solution and may appear as small tan or brown fragments of tissue.

Once the specimen arrives at the lab, White begins with a gross examination to document its size and physical characteristics. The tissue is then processed in the histology lab, where it is embedded in wax and sliced into extremely thin sections that can be mounted on glass slides.

After staining, the slides are examined under a microscope.

"I evaluate tissue architecture and cellular features, looking for patterns that indicate inflammation, infection, reactive changes, benign growths or malignancy," White said.

Reaching a diagnosis rarely depends on a single piece of information.

"Clinicopathologic correlation is essential," she said. "Diagnosis in oral pathology rarely relies on one source - it requires synthesizing multiple layers of information, including the clinical presentation, patient history and radiographs."

The cases White reviews span a wide range of conditions, from common inflammatory lesions to cysts, tumors and malignant disease. In some instances, the findings can reveal more than a dental condition.

"In some cases, an oral lesion can be the first sign of a systemic condition, such as multiple myeloma, metastatic cancer, autoimmune disorders or deep fungal infections," she said.

Because dentists routinely examine the mouth and surrounding tissues, they are often the first health care providers to notice early warning signs of disease.

"Routine dental visits are extremely important," White said. "Dentists are often the first health care providers to identify abnormalities in the mouth, and detecting suspicious or premalignant lesions early significantly improves prognosis and treatment outcomes."

She encourages patients to seek professional evaluation if they notice persistent ulcers, unusual discoloration, swelling, unexplained numbness or pain, difficulty opening the mouth or teeth that suddenly become loose without an obvious cause.

"Any lesion that does not resolve within two weeks warrants professional evaluation," she said.

Early detection can make a critical difference. White has seen routine oral cancer screenings during dental visits lead to diagnoses at stages when treatment is far more effective.

In addition to diagnosing cases, White teaches dental students and provides consultations for residents and faculty. She helps future dentists learn to recognize abnormal tissue and understand when a biopsy may be necessary.

Her role supports clinicians across Mississippi, helping ensure dentists throughout the state have access to specialized diagnostic expertise.

"No two days are exactly the same," she said. "You never know when a rare or complex case will arrive, which adds an element of discovery to the specialty."

White may never meet many of the patients whose cases she reviews, but the impact of her work is immediate.

"The most meaningful part of my work is ensuring that each patient receives the most accurate diagnosis possible," she said. "I take the necessary time to carefully evaluate each case and order additional studies when needed."

Ultimately, the diagnosis she provides directly influences the care a patient receives.

"The diagnosis I render directly impacts patient care," she said. "That responsibility is something I take very seriously."