What are Orofacial Disorders?
Orofacial disorders are diseases or defects of the oral cavity. Depending on the condition, these can have a range of causes from viruses and bacteria to ultraviolet rays, lifestyle choices such as alcohol and tobacco use, and age and gender.
Treating orofacial disorders involves diagnosing and offering mainly non-surgical treatment of primary diseases in the oral cavity, constitutional disorders and pain syndromes.
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons can assess, diagnose and treat orofacial disorders that are causing pain and other symptoms. We are often able to significantly improve a patient's quality of life with successful treatment.
Causes of Orofacial Disorders
At Carrefour Dentaire de Montréal, we are able to treat patients with a variety of orofacial disorders including:
- Skin diseases such as lichen planus
- Dry mouth
- Fungal infections
- Mouth cancer
- "Burning mouth" syndrome
- Atypical facial pain
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Chronic muscle pain
- Joint disorders
Treating Orofacial Disorders
It's critical that orofacial disorders receive proper, early diagnosis and treatment. Certain viruses, bacteria and fungi can increase the risk of developing premalignant lesions and oral cancer.
Treatment for an orofacial disorder will depend on your specific condition. An oral medicine consultation typically takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the problem being assessed.
Most of the consultation will involve answering questions before your surgeon examines your mouth and detailed structures.
X-rays, specialized imaging, blood tests and biopsies may be required to make an accurate diagnosis. Certain conditions will require long-term followup.
