Oral Medicine is a specialty within dentistry that rests at the interface of dentistry and medicine. Oral medicine specialists diagnose and manage conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region (mouth, lips, gums, jaws, tongue, soft and hard palate, and face), that is not classically dentally related problems such as dental decay and gum disease. It involves the diagnosis, prevention and predominantly non-surgical management of medically related disorders and conditions in particular oral mucosal disease and orofacial pain, as well as the oral health care of medically complex patients.
Many oral Medicine related conditions are associated with a high degree of morbidity and often affects quality of life. In many cases, oral and facial manifestations (signs and symptoms) may be the first indication of an underlying local condition such as oral cancer, thrush, or herpes simplex virus; or they may represent a more widespread, systemic condition such as diabetes, arthritis, or vitamin deficiency. Therefore, the scope of Oral Medicine is broad and often requires collaboration with other medical, dental and allied health practitioners.
The clinical scope of Oral Medicine broadly falls within three clinical areas:
- Orofacial Pain and dysfunction
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) locking
- TMJ pain
- Teeth grinding and clenching
- Persistent teeth pain
- Trigeminal nerve pain
- Oral Diseases and Disorders
- Red and white oral lesions
- Oral ulcers
- Oral infections such as fungal and viral infections
- Altered sensations of the mouth
- Oral lumps
- Dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction
- Conditions related to systemic conditions
- Oral Appliance Therapy for Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
You may be referred to an Oral Medicine Specialist by your dentist or doctor. An Oral Medicine Specialist will comprehensively assess your condition to establish your diagnosis and provide treatment recommendations. We understand that it can be difficult to find an Oral Medicine Specialist near you, especially if you live in a rural area with limited access to healthcare professionals. That is why we work with some of the best specialists throughout Australia to bring together a team of experts who are ready to help. At TeleOralMedicine, all our Oral Medicine Specialists are AHPRA registered Specialists and experienced in providing telehealth services.