Oral Medicine & Facial Pain

Oral medical conditions can present difficult diagnostic and treatment challenges.

The Oral Medicine clinic at UIC College of Dentistry is staffed by faculty members who have extensive professional expertise and experience in all aspects of oral medicine and clinical oral pathology. We are the only academic center of this kind in Chicago.

Conditions routinely treated

• Oral complications of medical therapy including cancer treatment (i.e. chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Oral and facial pain (TMD/TMJ, jaw pain, masticatory and cervical musculoskeletal pain)
• Neurovascular pain (migraine, cluster headaches) and neuropathic pain
• Sleep disorders related to oral health,  facial pain
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Oral changes associated with systemic diseases
• Salivary gland dysfunction and dry mouth
• Inflammatory conditions including mucosal auto-immune diseases
• Viral, bacterial and fungal infections
• Benign growths
• Diagnosis of oral cancer and pre-cancerous lesions
• Canker sores
• Bad breath
• Taste changes
• Oral manifestations of HIV

Our approach

We use a multidisciplinary approach to expertly diagnose and treat these oral mucosal diseases. The Oral Medicine team collaborates with all dental disciplines, including Periodontics, Endodontics, and Oral Surgery as well as a number of medical disciplines, including ENT, Dermatology, Oncology, Neurology, Hematology, Radiology, Surgery, and Psychiatry.

Referrals

We accept referrals from providers inside and outside the College of Dentistry. Patients who either have a referral from an outside provider, or have been screened in our clinics may schedule an appointment by phone or email.

  (312) 355-1222 
  oralmedicine@uic.edu

  Referral Forms: Oral Medicine (English) | Oral Medicine (Spanish)

Do you know the risk factors of oral cancer?

Did you know:
You are 3 times more likely to get oral cancer if you drink or use tobacco. And 30 times more likely if you have HPV, or Human Papillomavirus. 

We provide a broad range of diagnosis and non-surgical treatment for the treatment of oral mucosal diseases including oral complications of medical therapy including cancer treatment (i.e. chemotherapy and radiation therapy); oral changes associated with systemic diseases; salivary gland dysfunction and dry mouth; Inflammatory conditions including mucosal auto-immune diseases; viral, bacterial and fungal infections; benign growths; diagnosis of oral cancer and pre-cancerous lesions; canker sores; bad breath; taste changes; oral manifestations of HIV.

Oral & Facial Pain (TMJ/TMD, Jaw Pain, Headaches, etc.)

We specialize in treating oral pain conditions, including evidence-based methods of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, of facial pain disorders.

If you have conditions such as chronic headaches, jaw disorders, breathing issues or teeth grinding, you could be at risk for experiencing facial pain. Sometimes the causes of facial pains are associated with underlying diseases, head and neck cancers, oral legions or other oral conditions. Our clinicians use reversible, conservative and holistic treatment methodologies in the treatment planning of these cases. Our oral medicine and facial pain specialists work closely with primary physicians and other dentists to plan the most effective course of treatment for you.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as pain in head, face, oral and neck regions and temporomandibular disorder (TMD, jaw pain), sleep disorders related to breathing problems or similar concerns, our oral medicine & facial pain specialists may be able to help.

Experiencing jaw pain or chronic headaches? Schedule a consultation with our oral facial pain specialists to get help.

 

Schedule a consultation

 

Patient Education Videos

  Oral Medicine & Early Diagnosis 

  Oral Cancer: Learn the Facts

(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)

What to Expect from Your Oral Cancer Exam

(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)

Learn more about Oral Cancer causes, symptoms and the risks
(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)