Oral medicine functions at the interface of dentistry and medicine and plays a major role in client comfort and recovery, whether it is helping to treat chronic health conditions or provide treatment for disease and infection.
Chronic Health Conditions
A plethora of local and systemic diseases or their treatments can affect the oral cavity. Oral medicine practitioners diagnose and manage local and medically-related conditions which affect the oral and maxillofacial region. We can help with evaluation and management of:
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Canker sores
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Cold sores
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Sensitive, peeling, bleeding gums
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Chronic oral ulcers caused by lichen planus, pemphigus or pemphigoid
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Oral lesions of lupus, sarcoidosis, HIV and Crohn’s disease
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Fungal infections of the mouth
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Recent discolorations of oral mucosa
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Oral discomfort and sloughing caused by contact sensitivity
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White and red changes in the mouth
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Oral pre-cancer and cancer
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Oral complications of chemo/radiation
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Dry mouth
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Burning mouth
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Abnormal or bitter taste
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Oral warts
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Lumps and growths in the oral cavity
Dental Care
Preventive, routine, and early stage care is important when it comes to oral health. We recommend dental check-ups every six months, which include a professional cleaning and examination of the teeth and gums. These check-ups allow for minor and moderate problems to be addressed before they worsen.
Diagnosis
The primary role of oral medicine is to provide a non-surgical option for treating pathologies of the mouth. A specialist will most likely take a tiny amount of tissue in the mouth on which to conduct an examination. This may be combined with X-rays, interpreted by the corresponding doctor, which can help identify and pinpoint the root of lesions, diseases, and other oral problems. The state-of-the-art technology at our clinics, such as cone-bean tomography, will assist the doctor in finding the best solution for the patient.
Treatment
Treatment of these conditions relies on accurate diagnosis, and when necessary, an oral medicine clinician performs a biopsy by removing a small piece of tissue in the mouth for evaluation. Management of some oral conditions requires an interdisciplinary approach involving a team of clinicians. Our facility collaborates with specialists in allergy and immunology, rheumatology, dermatology, ophthalmology, neurology, and oral surgery in the management of complex conditions.
