The University of Washington School of Dentistry Oral Medicine Clinic in Seattle is a global leader in patient care related to the diagnosis and non-surgical management of disease in the orofacial complex.
Our Mission
We strive to provide thorough, compassionate, and evidence-based care to improve the quality of life in patients suffering from conditions whose management may fall between dentistry and medicine.
What to expect
- All patients treated in Oral Medicine Clinical Services (OMCS) are treated by attending faculty members with graduate level training in Oral Medicine
- Each faculty member in the Oral Medicine clinic serves as the head of a clinical “team” (which may include Oral Medicine graduate students, dental residents, & third/fourth year dental students).
- Attending faculty oversee all aspects of clinical care and are responsible for all treatment decisions. All members of the team are involved in various aspects of history taking, physical examination, & in office therapy.
- Appointments generally range from 20 – 90 minutes.
- Clinic hours are from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (Clinical availability varies between providers).
Fees and Insurance
- Depending on your specific clinical needs, procedures in Oral Medicine may be covered by either medical or dental insurance. Please bring both your medical and dental insurance information to facilitate best coverage.
- You may contact the Oral Medicine clinic prior to your appointment to receive a cost estimate or to ask specific questions related to insurance coverage or other financial aspects of care.
How to become a patient
- New patients may schedule an appointment by contacting OMCS at 206.685.2937
- All patients have the choice of requesting the next available appointment time or being added to the “wait list” to see a particular provider.
- The majority of patients treated in our clinic are referred directly from dental or medical providers, though self-referral is possible.
Before your first visit
After scheduling an appointment, you will receive paperwork in the mail which we ask you to complete prior to your initial visit. The forms are comprehensive provide our doctors with essential information related to your chief concern and medical history. Please allow 30-60 minutes to complete the forms.
If you have additional resources from prior medical or dental visits (radiographs/”X-rays”, test results, chart notes), please bring them with you to your first visit or arrange to have them sent to the clinic prior to your arrival.
Directions
Patients who have an appointment in the Oral Medicine Clinical Services (OMCS) will be seen in Room B-221 in the B-Wing of the Health Sciences Center. For maps, transit and parking information, please visit our Location and Directions page.
What is Oral Medicine?
Oral Medicine involves the diagnosis and nonsurgical management of diseases of the orofacial complex and systemic and behavioral disorders that impact oral health, including:
Diagnosis and management of:
- Orofacial pain (including psychologic counseling related to chronic pain management)
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders/Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) (including jaw pain, muscle pain, and locking/limited opening)
- Nerve and neurosensory disorders (such as burning mouth syndrome, oral and facial neuropathic pain, and trigeminal neuralgia)
- Movement disorders (including clenching/bruxism, dystonia, and tardive dyskinesia)
- Oral mucosal diseases (including lichen planus, canker sores/aphthous ulcers, allergic/hypersensitivity reactions, and other auto-immune conditions)
- Oral cancer/Oral dysplasia (“pre-cancer”)
- Dry mouth/Salivary gland dysfunction (including Sjögren’s syndrome
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Sleep disordered breathing
- Oral complications of medical therapy (including chemotherapy and radiation)
Treatments are targeted to specific conditions but may include:
- Prescription and over the counter medications
- Physical therapy (such as icing & stretching exercises)
- Occlusal appliances (“Night guards”)
- Mandibular advancement devices (for treating obstructive sleep apnea)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychologic counseling in chronic pain management
- Preventive and protective interventions to protect teeth (including dry mouth management and topical fluoride therapy)