What exactly is Oral Medicine?
The discipline of Oral Medicine is primarily a non-surgical specialty and includes:

• The diagnosis and medical management of soft tissue pathology of the oral cavity, such as cancer, precancer, autoimmune diseases, cysts, and tumors.
• The relationship between systemic diseases and the oral cavity, and how oral health can impact the entire body
• Recognition of signs of systemic disease in the oral cavity, leading to early diagnosis (HIV infection is a good example of this)
• The diagnosis and management of neurological and pain conditions of the orofacial region
• Diagnosis and management of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD/TMJ)
• Diagnosis and management of disorders of the salivary glands (such as dry mouth)
• Management of the dental patient with complex medical problems.

Why are you making a point of telling me this?
Dr. Casiglia is one of very few board-certified Oral Medicine clinicians nationwide accessible in a private practice setting. Normally patients seeking this expertise would have to go through a university health care and hospital system which can take weeks or months.

Does Dr. Casiglia's specialty training matter to me if I don't have one of the problems above?
Even if you do not have need of specific oral medicine services, per se, Dr. Casiglia's advanced training makes him observant of early changes and warning signs in your mouth that other clinicians may not readily appreciate. If anything is detected, rest assured that Dr. Casiglia can manage the problem in our office without referring you to someone else. If it is necessary to involve specialists (for example, if cancer is diagnosed), he has good relationships with many excellent specialists that can help.

Does Dr. Casiglia see patients from other doctors with these problems?
Yes. Dr. Casiglia often treats patients referred from other dentists, dental specialists, and physicians to diagnose and manage these conditions that they either find challenging or prefer not to manage. He works in careful coordination with them to ensure the best treatment for you.

Finally, we will pay careful attention to your health and medication histories and how these play a role in your oral health. Blood pressure is taken at recall (cleaning) appointments to screen for hypertension and help physicians monitor those individuals who do have high blood pressure and/or take medications. Your medical history, medications, and allergies are all taken into consideration as we design your treatment plan. Your physician may be contacted and treatment modified to ensure your saftey and an optimal outcome.