Oral Medicine vs. OMFP

[dr hutchison]

Can someone explain the difference between the fields of oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial pathology? Been curious about this for a while.

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[Quattro DMD]

Can someone explain the difference between the fields of oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial pathology? Been curious about this for a while.

Oral medicine is a clinical specialty involving the treatment of patients with oral manifestations of systemic disease, mucocutaneous diseases, cancer, transplant patients, etc. It is not an ADA recognized specialty but there are about 8 programs in the U.S. with most lasting between 2-3 years for a certificate, with or without a masters degree. Some programs even teach you to manage TMD and orofacial pain.

Oral and maxillofacial pathology "identifies and manages diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions and investigates the causes, processes and effects of these diseases." This ADA recognized specialty is both laboratory and clinical in nature. OMPs can histologically diagnose disease under the microscope. OMP's can also treat patients clinically, essentially the same thing as oral medicine. The amount of clinical training varies by school but OMPs can clinically manage patients in the same fashion as an oral medicine "specialist". There's about 14 programs in the U.S., 3 years minimum, resulting in a certificate with or without a masters.

 

[dr hutchison]

Thanks. So it sounds like the biggest difference is OMFP's greater focus on research and microscopic diagnosis, whereas OM is mostly clinical.

 

[Quattro DMD]

Yep, pretty much. When OM's do hospital rotations in residency they do a lot of internal medicine, oncology, and other specialty rotations, whereas OMPs do their hospital rotations in anatomic/clinical pathology. But there's a great deal of overlap clinically for both specialties, and it's completely within the scope of practice for OMPs to treat patients in a clinical practice. In fact, there are some OMPs that do not even read slides but limit their practice to the clinical treatment of patients.

 

[servitup]

One is a real specialty. The other is just a dentist. All GP's should be able to do what "Oral Medicine" docs do. That is why they call us Dr. instead of tooth carpenter.

 

[senpai]

One is a real specialty. The other is just a dentist. All GP's should be able to do what "Oral Medicine" docs do. That is why they call us Dr. instead of tooth carpenter.

Agreed. I don't see the purpose of an "Oral Medicine" doc other than a good reference person within an academic setting. In the real world if a dentist has a concern over the patients systemic health in general or in regards to dental tx, consultation is made with the pt's primary care physician, not another dentist, not an "Oral medic", or anyone else. Concerns regarding intra-oral and extra-oral H&N pathology are resolved through referall/consultation with an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon and/or Oral & Maxillofacial Pathologist for dx & tx.
I don't see where there would ever be a referall to an Oral Med doc, so I guess the only advantage would be to have more familiarity with your pt's systemic & H&N pathological conditions. However, just bc you may be a little more knowledgable DOES NOT mean that a consultation is no longer required with the pt's primary care physician nor does it mean by any means that an "Oral Med" doc is a substitute for an Oral & Maxillofacial Pathologist or Surgeon regarding the dx & tx of H&N pathology.
I don't see the benefit besides being able to pat yourself on the back. Extra schooling & tuition isn't fun either...

 

[cresophene]

Agreed. I don't see the purpose of an "Oral Medicine" doc other than a good reference person within an academic setting. In the real world if a dentist has a concern over the patients systemic health in general or in regards to dental tx, consultation is made with the pt's primary care physician, not another dentist, not an "Oral medic", or anyone else. Concerns regarding intra-oral and extra-oral H&N pathology are resolved through referall/consultation with an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon and/or Oral & Maxillofacial Pathologist for dx & tx.
I don't see where there would ever be a referall to an Oral Med doc, so I guess the only advantage would be to have more familiarity with your pt's systemic & H&N pathological conditions. However, just bc you may be a little more knowledgable DOES NOT mean that a consultation is no longer required with the pt's primary care physician nor does it mean by any means that an "Oral Med" doc is a substitute for an Oral & Maxillofacial Pathologist or Surgeon regarding the dx & tx of H&N pathology.
I don't see the benefit besides being able to pat yourself on the back. Extra schooling & tuition isn't fun either...

Tell that to the Dual degree DDS/MBBS Oral Medicine consultants in the United Kingdom.

 

[senpai]

Tell that to the Dual degree DDS/MBBS Oral Medicine consultants in the United Kingdom.

Were we talking about Dentistry in the United States or in the United Kingdom? All of comments refer to the model in our system that I previousely described. I have yet to be convinced of how an Oral Med Doc would play a significant role within that model.