Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine

 

Head: Prof. Ilana Kaplan

A. Oral Medicine Clinics

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the oral mucosa

Maxillofacial imaging (performance and interpretation of maxillofacial imaging)

Oral and maxillofacial pain

Diagnosis and treatment of salivary gland dysfunction

Halitosis (oral malodor)

Dental treatment for medically compromised patients

Oral and dental health for oncology patients

Dental treatment under sedation or general anesthesia

Chemosensory diagnostic clinic (smell and taste)

Photobiomodulation (Low level LASER) clinic

B. Oral pathology laboratory - biopsy and consultation services in oral pathology

  

A. Oral Medicine Clinics

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the oral mucosa:

the oral mucosa is involved by about 400 different medical conditions from a wide range of categories, such as developmental, infectious, inflammatory, immune-related and benign and malignant tumors. In many cases, accurate early diagnosis enables immediate, life-saving treatment with improved quality of life. Identification of pre-malignant lesions and follow-up is the standard routine in this clinic. In case of need, lesions from the oral mucosa are biopsied in order to achieve an accurate diagnosis. Biopsies are processed in the department in-house laboratory of oral pathology, that provides a most professional and efficient service. 

In charge of the clinic for diagnosis and treatment of oral mucosal lesions: Dr. Ayelet Zlotogorski-Hurvitz; Additional staff: Dr. Orit Arias-Winocur

Clinic Schedule: Sunday and Tuesday, 8:30-13:00

 

 

Oral and maxillofacial pain:

in this clinic patients are treated for pain in the facial area, jawbones, joints, intra-oral regions. In these patients, pain is unrelated to teeth or their supporting tissues, but is rather associated with the neural system or is of vascular origin, for example migraines, sinusitis, "cracked-tooth syndrome", occlusal impairment, burning mouth syndromes, and many others. This clinic also deals with the association between dentistry and sleeping disorders and offers diagnosis and a wide range of personalized treatment approaches, including pharmacological, dental appliances for prevention of snoring and sleep apnea, hypnosis, targeted Botox injections. Since the diagnosis of these conditions is usually very complex, the clinic operates on a routine cooperation with specialists from other fields of medicine, like family physicians, neurologists, radiologists, rheumatologists, ENT and psychiatrists.       

In charge of the oral and maxillofacial pain clinic: Dr. Shoshana Reiter; Additional staff: Dr. Alona Emodi-Perlman, Dr. Pessia Rubin, Dr. Larry Lockerman

Clinic Schedule: Wednesday, 8:30-13:00

 

 

Clinic of maxillofacial imaging:

the clinic provides diagnostic and consultation services for a variety of imaging procedures, both intra- and extra-oral x-rays. The clinic is open for patients referred from in-school students, residents and staff as well as for those referred from community private practice, medical institutions and for patients who seek private consultation in this field. The radiology unit of the School has been recently renovated and is equipped with various x-ray devices that enable performance of periapical, occlusal, panoramic, cephalometric and dental CT (CBCT). All x-ray images are fully digitalized.        

In charge of the clinic of maxillofacial imaging: Dr. Lazar Katz; Additional staff: Dr. Najwa Naama

Clinic schedule: Tuesday, 8:30-13:00

Radiology unit: Sunday to Thursday, 8:30-18:00

 

 

Clinic for diagnosis and treatment of salivary gland dysfunction:

dry mouth can be a symptom for a variety of diseases and medical conditions. It can be caused by many types of drugs, auto-immune diseases (like Sjogren syndrome), infectious conditions (like AIDS, Hepatitis C), metabolic disorders (like diabetes), irradiations to the head and neck area in oncologic patients, and by different mental conditions. Sialorrhea, over secretion of saliva, is the opposite condition to dry mouth, and is caused by many etiologic factors. The patients in this clinic undergo a thorough work-up in order to reach an accurate diagnosis and provide the most adequate treatment modalities to cope either with no saliva or too much saliva.   

 Halitosis (oral malodor) clinic: many patients complain on oral malodor, which can be due to local causes or to disorders related to the respiratory or gastroenterological systems. The clinic offers objective measurement of malodor by means of a special device (halimeter) that can aid in identifying whether the malodor is related to local/oral or other factors.

In charge of the clinic for diagnosis and treatment of salivary gland dysfunction and malodor: Dr. Orit Arias-Winocur

Clinic schedule: Monday, 8:30-13:00

 

 

Clinic for dental treatment for medically compromised patients:

provides dental treatment to patients who present with a compromised general medical status that prevents treatment in routine community dental offices. These patients need special measurements before, during and after the dental treatment in order to avoid aggravation of their background medical conditions, such as cardiac disorders, diabetes, kidney complications, liver diseases, blood dyscrasias, lung conditions, coagulation deficiencies, and others. Dental treatment is provided by dentists and under strict monitoring, adjusted to the basic medical status. Members of "Clalit Smile" are also treated in this clinic conforming to the price list of the Clalit; members of the other Kupot Holim are treated according to the School price list.            

In charge of the clinic for medically compromised patients: Dr. Osnat Greenstein-Koren; Additional staff: Dr. Jeremy Edel, Dr. Yuli Goldman, Dr. Einav Raz

Clinic schedule: Monday and Thursday, 8:30-13:00; Monday 14:00 – 18:00

 

 

Clinic for oral and dental health for oncology patients:

patients scheduled for oncologic treatment, had and neck radiotherapy or chemotherapy, require dental evaluation and some mandatory dental treatment prior to oncological treatment. In addition, there is a life-long need for close follow-up of their dental status and specifically designed and adjusted dental treatment. In accordance to the Medical Administration Circular #59/2003, these patients are entitled to subsidized dental treatment before and after the oncological treatment (irradiation/chemotherapy). Implementation of this right is conditioned on approval given to the patients by the Kupat Holim they belong to. Oncology patients from the Kupat Holim Clalit are treated in our clinic according to the price list of "Clalit Smile"; members of the other Kupot Holim are treated according to the School price list and they can submit a request to their individual Kupat Holim for participation in the cost of the dental treatment.    

In charge of the clinic for oncology patients: Dr. Jeremy Edel; Additional staff: Dr. Osnat Greenstein-Koren, Dr. Yuli Goldman, Dr. Einav Raz

Clinic schedule: Monday and Thursday, 8:30-13:00; Monday 14:00 – 18:00 

 

 

Dental treatment under sedation or general anesthesia:

numerous adult patients cannot undergo standard dental treatment, as they suffer from dental phobia, anxiety, uncontrolled gag reflex, and lack of cooperation due to physical or mental problems. Under these conditions, dental treatment can be delivered under sedation or general anesthesia.

 In charge of dental sedation and general anesthesia dental treatment: Dr. Yuli Goldman

Clinic schedule: Monday and Thursday, 8:30-13:00 

 

 

Chemosensory diagnostic clinic (smell and taste):

decrease, modification or loss of the ability to taste, smell or both, are expected to have an impact on appetite, loss of body weight and hence to impair quality of life. These phenomena are recognized disabilities by Bituah Leumi.  The diagnosis requires comprehensive work-up, including special diagnostic tools, which are available in our clinic. These would enable quantitatively and qualitatively the extent of dysfunction in tasting and smell senses and thus allow to recommend on appropriate ways to treat or cope with the condition.

 In charge of chemosensory clinic: Dr. Dror Livni

Clinic schedule: Wednesday, 8:30-13:00

 

 

Photobiomodulation (low-level laser) clinic:

the low-level laser has been recently recognized as a new modality to treat pain in the head and neck area and to ease the side effects of oncology treatments (head and neck irradiation, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants). We offer this new modality for treating several conditions. The treatment is pain-free and well tolerated by patients.

In charge of the clinic: Dr. Najwa Naama

Clinic schedule: Tuesday, 8:30-13:00 

 

 

First aid clinic:

The department provides daily first aid service to all patients who need emergency dental treatment. The service is supplied by 6th year students (last year in the Dental School) under the supervision of the department staff. 

In charge of the firs aid clinic: Dr. Orit Arias-Winocur

Clinic schedule: Sunday to Thursday, 8:30-10:30

 

 

B. Oral pathology laboratory - biopsy and consultation services in oral pathology

Oral pathology: this is the scientific field that combines dentistry with pathology and focuses on the microscopic diagnosis of diseases and conditions that affect the oral soft and hard tissues and in the adjacent regions. The specialty of oral pathology is the practice of integration of the information gathered on clinical, radiological and laboratory levels with the microscopic findings, in order to enable an accurate diagnosis and further aid clinicians to administer the most adequate treatment for the patient's well-being.

All practicing dental surgeons can enjoy the services of an oral pathologist for any type of lesion they encounter in their clinical setting. Nowadays, the technology enables direct, fast and efficient communication between the clinic and the laboratory of oral pathology. With the introduction of digital pathology, this route will even be more efficient in the near future and will make the entire procedure a chair-side service. The microscopic diagnosis submitted by the oral pathologist will help to determine the most suitable treatment modality or additional consultation in selected cases.     

Our department provides a unique service in Israel for microscopic diagnosis (biopsies) of the oral cavity, jaw bones and salivary glands. The service is provided to all dentists from the community, to patients who need further reassessment/opinion on biopsies and as a counseling center for pathology institutes in hospitals where there is no specialist in oral pathology. The service includes examination of microscopic preparations with routine and special staining.

Profs. Ilana Kaplan and Marilena Vered are in charge of the biopsy service.

Dr. Michal Lusthaus is the head of the oral pathology teaching laboratory.

Biopsy service is available Sunday to Thursday, 8:30-13:00, Monday and Thursday until 18:00

Tel:  03-6407907

Email: oralp@tauex.tau.ac.il