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Oral medicine is the dental specialty that diagnoses and treats all diseases of the oral cavity and the maxillofacial region that do not require major surgical treatment: mucosal lesions, infections, salivary gland disorders and oral manifestations of systemic diseases.
Most patients do not realise that the mouth is much more than teeth. An ulcer that does not heal, a change in the mucosa or facial pain with no apparent dental cause may be signs of serious diseases, including oral cancer. Identifying them early makes the difference between a simple treatment and a complex one.
At Clínica Dental Asensio, Dr. Lucía Asensio Romero (Registration No. 46002287) leads the oral medicine service in Valencia with specific training in oral pathology and care for patients with systemic diseases. Your first visit is completely free and includes a full clinical examination, digital panoramic X-ray and intraoral scan.
What conditions does oral medicine treat?
Oral medicine covers a broad spectrum of conditions that go beyond teeth and gums. Its field includes disorders of the oral mucosa, tongue, lips, palate, salivary glands and jawbone. It also deals with oral manifestations of systemic diseases such as diabetes, lupus, Crohn’s disease or Sjögren’s syndrome, which often have their first clinical expression in the mouth before being diagnosed more generally.
Among the most common conditions treated by oral medicine in our clinic are recurrent ulcers or canker sores, oral candidiasis, oral lichen planus, leukoplakia, erythroplakia, premalignant lesions and the early diagnosis of oral cancer. We also manage the side effects of cancer treatment on the oral cavity, such as chemotherapy-induced mucositis or osteoradionecrosis due to radiotherapy, as well as oral complications from bisphosphonate therapy.
When the clinical examination is inconclusive, oral medicine uses biopsy of the affected tissue and microscopic analysis through oral pathology, allowing more serious lesions to be confirmed or ruled out with diagnostic precision. This ability to perform a complete differential diagnosis is what distinguishes oral medicine from other branches of dentistry.
Prevention plays a central role in this specialty. Oral cancer has a five-year survival rate of over 80% when diagnosed at stage I, compared with less than 30% in advanced stages. Regular check-ups with an oral medicine specialist allow premalignant lesions to be detected before they progress, especially in patients with risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption or HPV infection.
Treatments in oral medicine
The therapeutic approach in oral medicine is mainly medical, not surgical. Treatments are based on topical medications —antiseptic mouthwashes, corticosteroids, antifungals— and oral medication adapted to each condition and the patient’s systemic profile. This pharmacological approach allows most mucosal lesions to be treated effectively without the need for surgery.
When the lesion requires it, minimally invasive procedures are used, such as tissue removal with diode or CO₂ dental laser, which acts with millimetric precision on the affected tissue, minimises bleeding, reduces the risk of infection and shortens recovery time. The laser is also used in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis to reduce pain immediately and accelerate healing.
For patients receiving cancer treatment, we design specific oral preparation and follow-up protocols. Before starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy, we carry out a full check-up to eliminate infectious foci that could worsen during treatment. During and after treatment, we monitor the mucosa and manage complications with guidelines adapted to the patient’s immune status.
The care of special patients —with Alzheimer’s, ADHD, cerebral palsy or other conditions that require a differentiated protocol— is also part of the clinic’s oral medicine service. For cases involving orofacial pain or temporomandibular dysfunction, we have specialists with specific training in these conditions.
Who should see an oral medicine specialist?
Any patient with a condition in the oral cavity that cannot be directly attributed to a tooth may benefit from an oral medicine assessment. It is not necessary to have a serious disease to seek consultation: recurrent canker sores that interfere with quality of life, persistent dry mouth, spots or colour changes in the mucosa, or chronic facial pain are sufficient reasons to request a specialised assessment.
Oral medicine is especially relevant for several groups of patients. Immunocompromised patients —due to HIV, organ transplantation or immunosuppressive treatment— more frequently present opportunistic infections, mucosal lesions and oral complications that require specialised management. People undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy or bisphosphonate treatment need specific dental follow-up before, during and after treatment to prevent serious complications. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should monitor their oral health with special attention, as hormonal changes increase the risk of gingivitis and other conditions.
Patients with dermatological diseases with oral manifestations —pemphigus, lichen planus, erythema multiforme— and those with systemic diseases such as diabetes, Crohn’s disease or lupus who present associated oral lesions also attend oral medicine consultations. In all these cases, the oral medicine specialist works in coordination with the physician responsible for systemic treatment.
Frequently asked questions about oral medicine
What is oral medicine and how is it different from general dentistry?
Oral medicine is the dental specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the oral mucosa, salivary glands, jaws and oral manifestations of systemic diseases. Unlike general dentistry, it does not focus on teeth but on the whole set of soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Its approach is mainly medical —pharmacological and diagnostic— rather than restorative or surgical.
What conditions does an oral medicine specialist treat?
They treat recurrent canker sores and ulcers, mucosal lesions, oral candidiasis, lichen planus, leukoplakia, erythroplakia, orofacial pain, temporomandibular dysfunction, oral manifestations of systemic diseases such as diabetes or lupus, and the side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or bisphosphonates on the mouth.
When should I see an oral medicine specialist?
When you have an ulcer or sore that does not heal within two weeks, unusual-looking mucosal lesions, pain in the jaw or face with no apparent dental cause, persistent dry mouth, or if you are a cancer patient, immunocompromised or pregnant and need specialised dental care.
Is the first visit free?
Yes. At Clínica Dental Asensio the first visit is completely free and includes a full clinical examination, digital panoramic X-ray, intraoral scan, diagnosis and a personalised treatment plan with no obligation.