Oral medicine is somewhat of a mystery to most people. We have dentists and doctors but what is oral medicine? Oral medicine is a specialty area of dentistry that deals with the management of diseases like oral mucosa, orofacial pain conditions, salivary gland disorders and taste disorders. Oral medicine is a distinct area of dentistry that would be listed as the middle ground between medicine and dentistry since it incorporates dental conditions that have medical characteristics.
The main features of oral medicine include care, research as well as the effectiveness of care through undergraduate and  postgraduate teaching. A significant factor of oral medicine is the diagnosis of, and the information and aid in dental management for people with special medical conditions such as those with cancer, older patients or those who had a history of complex medical complications.
Who is oral medicine for?
If you experience dry mouth conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome non-dental chronic orofacial pain conditions like burning mouth syndrome which is a medical condition that causes a burning or tingling in the mouth, lips or tongue, then you would see an oral medicine specialists for diagnosis and management. In addition, patients who suffer from medically compromising conditions such as cancer patients with oral mucositis, osteonecrosis of the jaws or any oral pathology related to radiation therapy.
Who practices oral medicine?
If you are reading this and think you may need to find an oral medicine specialists here are the things you need to know. Oral medicine deals with both management and diagnosis and is practiced by specialists and sub-specialists in the field. It involves specialized knowledge and experience in this area. Although there is no official recognition of this specialty, it is important to note that those who practice oral medicine generally have both medical and dental degrees. Some organizations such as the American Academy of Oral Medicine also offer continuing education classes for interested clinicians. In the UK, there are about 15 oral medicine units with about 30 who practice oral medicine.
What is the best way to find out more about oral medicine?
If you think you might be interested and want to find out more, ask your dentist about how oral medicine can help in diagnosis and management of non-dental pathology. He or she may be able to provide you with a reference or may be familiar with oral medicine in their practice.
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