What is Oral Medicine?

Oral medicine is the dental specialty that focuses on diagnosis and management of oral mucosal conditions and orofacial pain.  This includes:

• Burning Mouth Syndrome
• Dry Mouth Syndrome
• Neuropathic pain of the jaw such as phantom tooth pain
• Movement disorders of the jaw
• Facial and trigeminal neuralgia
• Oral mucosal conditions such as oral lichen planus or oral hypersensitivity
• Oral complications from cancer treatment such as oral mucositis and oral GVHD (Graft vs. Host Disease)
• Oral cancer diagnosis, oral care during cancer treatment, and post-treatment follow-up
• Oral changes from systemic diseases including Crohn’s disease and Lupus
• TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) pain and tooth grinding (bruxism)
• Viral (cold sores and shingles), bacterial, and fungal oral infections
• Canker sores
• Oral appliances for sleep breathing disorders such as sleep apnea
• Oral changes from smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco
• Tobacco cessation