Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology is that branch of dentistry that integrates the fields of medicine and dentistry to promote optimal health. Oral medicine is that area of special competence concerned with the health and with disease involving the oral and para oral structures.
It includes those principles of medicine that relate to the mouth, as well as research in biological, pathological and clinical spheres. It was recognized as a specialty by the DCI in 1968 (Oral Medicine) and 1971(Oral Radiology). The theme of the department is “Oral Health for General health”. Oral Medicine specialist not only sees the teeth but the patients with teeth. As a specialty, Oral Medicine and Radiology is mainly associated with
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Application of General Medicine & diagnostics in dentistry for the management of various diseases of head and neck
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Oral health care of medically compromised patients
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Dental management of medically compromised patients
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Diagnosis and management of a wide variety of non-surgical conditions of the intraoral hard and soft tissues, to include facial pain, salivary gland disorders vesiculobullous diseases and other oral soft tissue lesions that may be either primary in origin or oral manifestations of systemic diseases.
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Recognition of the interaction of oral and systemic health
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Integration of medical and oral health care
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Management of Pharmaco-therapeutics necessary for treatment of oral and systemic diseases.
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Investigation of the etiology and treatment of oral diseases through basic science and clinical research.
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Research, teaching and patient care
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Provision of care for medically complex patients and for those undergoing cancer therapy.
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Diagnosis and management of psychosomatic oral diseases.
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Identification of culprits with the help of dental structures ( Forensic Odontology )
The department also offers many services like Radiographic investigations(Intraoral & Extraoral), CBCT (Cone beam computed tomography), Intralesional Therapy , Counselling, Sialometry, Guided Aspirations, Incisional & Aspiration Biopsy, Exfoliative Cytology, Vital staining, Digital radiography. LASER Therapy/surgeries carried out on more than 150 patients of aphthous ulcers, dentinal hypersensitivity, inflammatory hyperplasias, potentially malignant disorders including Oral submucous fibrosis cases and developmental anatomical variations.