ORAL MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY
Oral medicine and pathology involves the diagnosis and non-surgical management of oral, maxillofacial, and temporomandibular joint diseases or disorders.
Oral medicine specialists diagnose and treat conditions of the mouth and jaws; these include, but are not limited to, oral mucosal diseases, neuromuscular dysfunction, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and orofacial pain disorders. People with complex medical conditions often require oral medicine specialists to manage their dental care.
Oral pathologists diagnose and treat diseases affecting the oral mucosa; they perform laboratory procedures on oral and maxillofacial tissues to establish a histopathological diagnosis. Oral pathologists are central to diagnosing both hard and soft tissue samples biopsied by dentists, surgeons, or physicians.
For more information about oral and maxillofacial pathology and oral medicine visit:
Canadian Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Medicine (PDF)