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Download NowYou know you should see a dentist when you have a toothache. But who should you see when, for reasons you don’t know, you are:
In these cases, among others, you still need to alert your dentist. They may then refer you to an oral medicine specialist.
Dentists who practice oral medicine are mouth specialists focused on the detection, diagnosis, and management of medically related disorders of the mouth, jaws, and face. They treat problems that fall outside a general dentist’s expertise.
When you’re suffering from discomfort and pain in or around your mouth and the cause isn’t obvious, the Philadelphia oral medicine specialists on the Penn Dental Family Practice (PDFP) team can help you.
What is oral medicine?
The American Academy of Oral Medicine (AAOM) defines oral medicine (sometimes called dental-oral medicine) as “the specialty of dentistry responsible for the oral health care of medically complex patients and for the diagnosis and management of medically related disorders or conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region.”
The AAOM’s definition needs some unpacking:
Oral medicine was officially recognized as a dental specialty in 2020. But its origins reach as far back as the collected works of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. These texts “describe for the first time in a systematic way a large number of oral diseases” and how to treat them.
Not until the mid-20th century did the integration of oral health and overall health receive serious, sustained attention.
In the United States, for instance, dentistry and medicine had been regarded as separate disciplines for some 200 years. This divide emerged in the days when “dentistry was an unregulated trade,” often considered little more than filling and pulling teeth.
Today’s medical professionals increasingly understand the relationship between oral health care and overall health care. While these connections inform all dental treatment, they are the particular focus of the oral medicine specialist.
Regular, routine dental care with a general dentist is essential for good oral health. But some problems in your mouth need more attention and intervention than your regular dentist can provide.
Oral medicine is “a distinct and well-defined field that requires unique knowledge and skills” beyond those of general dentists. People who want to specialize in this discipline must have already earned their dental school degree before starting a course of study that takes at least two more years to complete.
Among other subjects, these mouth specialists receive formal instruction, clinical practice, and opportunities for research in:
Their additional education and advanced training give you these benefits of seeing an oral medicine specialist:
Through careful examination—including such procedures as biopsies, blood tests, and diagnostic imaging when needed—oral medicine doctors identify disorders and conditions including:
Accurate, expert diagnosis is the foundation for effective treatment.
Oral medicine specialists perform diagnostic procedures, such as biopsies and excisions. They generally provide nonsurgical, noninvasive treatment.
Depending on your specific needs, your oral medicine doctor may provide:
Your oral medicine specialist will coordinate your care with your primary care physician, your dentist, and other specialists as needed.
This comprehensive approach to your treatment ensures your oral health receives attention as part of your overall health. It also increases the potential for you to experience the most positive treatment outcomes.
If you need relief from discomfort and pain in your teeth, jaw, mouth, or face, consider consulting the oral medicine specialists at Penn Dental Family Practice.
Our oral medicine team includes some of the most highly respected mouth specialists in Philadelphia. Some are professors at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
At both our convenient locations, we use state-of-the-art technology, the latest evidence-based techniques, and patient-centered approaches. And we work with you to provide affordable oral health-care solutions.
Schedule your appointment online now, or call us at 215-898-PDFP (7337).