Oral Medicine

Oral medicine is the specialty of dentistry dealing with management of the oral health of patients with complex medical conditions as well as diagnosis and treatment of mainly non-surgical primary diseases of the oral cavity and constitutional disorders and pain syndromes that may affect the orofacial area.

More practically, the specialist in oral medicine diagnoses and treats disorders of the mouth and of the orofacial area. Disorders frequently encountered include:

  • Skin diseases such as lichen planus
  • Fungal infections
  • Oral Cancer
  • Burning mouth syndrome
  • Dry mouth
  • Atypical facial pain
  • Chronic muscle pain
  • Joint disorders

An oral medicine consultation usually lasts between 45 and 60 minutes depending on the issue to assess. The consultation mainly consists in answering several questions regarding the problem and in a detailed examination of the mouth and of the related structures. Radiographs, Ct Scan and MRI, blood tests and biopsies may be necessary to establish the final diagnosis. Certain conditions, such as skin diseases and chronic pain, may require a longer-term monitoring.

Dr. Steve Tremblay

Dr. Steve Tremblay

DMD (U. Laval), MSc (U. Laval), MSc (U. Toronto), FRCD(C)
Specialist in oral medicine
Specialist in oral and maxillofacial pathology

Graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry, Université Laval, in 1999, Dr. Tremblay also completed a Master of Dental Science at the same institution. Subsequently, he completed a four-year program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Medicine at the University of Toronto. There, he also obtained a Master of Science degree in the field of molecular biology (oncology). Dr. Tremblay is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry at Université Laval. He maintains a practice in Quebec at the Clinique Maxillo-Québec and at the Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus. He also works in Trois-Rivières in collaboration with a team of oral surgeons and a prosthodontist.

Dr. Tremblay is a member of Ordre des dentistes du Quebec, Association des spécialistes en médecine buccale du Quebec, International Association of Oral Pathologists, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

He co-founded the Oral and Maxillofacial Histopathology Service.